The car halted abruptly as traffic light signaled, forcing the vehicles behind to stop and line up one after another. Beggars loitering by the roadside sprang into action, scattering among the cars to plead for alms.
"Sir, may you be blessed. Sir, please help me, my daughter is gravely ill…"
An elderly woman, one of the beggars, began her plea as she navigated between the cars. Her final words reached the driver of a sleek white car with tinted windows. She stopped in front of it, captivated by its grandeur.
Inside, the driver turned from his phone to glance at her. Dressed in a green long gown, she didn't match what he expected. Yet, in an instant, her face transported him to a memory buried deep in his past. In his mind, the woman transformed into his late mother, dressed in her usual attire, standing protectively before a young boy—his younger self.
Both mother and child were weary, their faces marked with hardship. He vividly remembered how, years ago, his mother had shielded him from an oncoming car with a protective embrace, her trembling voice pleading for help.
"Sir, please, for the sake of humanity, help us. My daughter is suffering..."
The beggar's voice faded, replaced by his mother's, echoing in his ears. It was a memory that still stung. A horn blared behind him, pulling him back to reality. He realized the cars ahead were moving. Though the woman couldn't see him through the dark tint, she seemed to sense his gaze.
Lowering the window slightly, he gestured for her to follow and drove across the junction to park at the roadside. The beggars swarmed his car, each desperate to catch his attention.
"Sir, help us. Sir, may you be blessed..."
Their voices overlapped as their hands tapped against his windows. Calmly, he opened the dashboard, pulled out a stack of fresh notes, and distributed them—two to each beggar. The act caused chaos as those who had already received doubled back to try again.
As their voices faded with gratitude, he finally spotted the elderly woman. Signaling for her to wait, he completed distributing the rest before addressing her directly.
"Ma'am, what's wrong with your daughter?"
His voice, as always, was measured and calm. Despite this, it seemed to unnerve the woman, who stammered, her hands trembling.
"Sir, she has rashes all over her body. We don't know the cause, but they're spreading. The hospital started treatment, but we ran out of money. We don't even have enough for transportation."
He nodded, her frailty and desperation striking a chord. From her demeanor, he could tell food was as much a concern as medicine.
"I hope she recover soon. Are you staying nearby?"
She nodded hastily, still unsure of his intentions.
"I'll be back shortly."
He drove to an ATM a short distance away, withdrew hundred thousand, and returned. Parking again, he crossed the street to hand her the money. The moment the notes touched her hands, she broke into fervent prayers, her voice shaking with disbelief and gratitude.
Even as he walked back to his car, she knelt on the pavement, tears streaming down her face. The image stayed with him, but he shook it off, restarting the engine.
Three attempts later, the car finally moved, merging back into the bustling road. Yet his mind wrestled with emotions he tried to suppress... memories of his mother and the responsibilities weighing him down.
Just then, his phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw the name Aunty. A faint smile replaced his frown, the familiar name a balm to his weary soul.
"Yibo, how was your trip? Did you make it back safely?"
After greeting her, he replied, "Yes, Aunty. But I'm exhausted."
Her warm laugh reached him through the line.
"I can imagine! You didn't even come to see me. I know you must be tired, but do try to stop by tomorrow, okay?"
"Of course. Thank you, Aunty."
They exchanged goodbyes, her gentle words easing his tension. Yet he couldn't ignore the lingering weight in his heart...the same unresolved burdens that always found a way to resurface.
As he arrived at the gate of the house he called his sanctuary, a single honk was enough for the guard to open it, signaling he was nearby.
"Ah! Welcome, sir! You're back... glad to see you," greeted Guo, the young guard, brimming with excitement due to their friendly rapport.
Yibo smiled warmly as he parked the car and exchanged pleasantries. However, half of his mind had already drifted inside the compound, where the owner of the house, Barrister Xu Liang, stood by his car. His three children—two boys and a little girl—played between the car and the yard, clearly waiting for their mother to join them.
Before Yibo could dwell further, the door on the house's spacious veranda opened, and Wu Jing, Barrister Xu Liang's wife and the children's mother, emerged. As always, she looked stunning in her elegant attire, with her radiant complexion and impeccable style masking her age. Her petite frame and slim figure made it hard to believe she had children, the eldest of whom was about to enter high school. Her flawless makeup and outfit sparkled in the sunlight, making her appear almost otherworldly, even from Yibo's vantage point in the car.
Deciding to avoid an encounter, Yibo steered his car toward the left wing of the house, where his quarters were located. He lingered in the car, hoping they would leave before he had to interact with them. However, through the rearview mirror, he caught sight of Wu Jing still standing with her husband, chatting. Accepting the inevitability, he turned off the engine and approached them.
"I think it was yesterday at the office that I told a colleague I hadn't seen you in over a week," Xu Liang said as Yibo joined them, his face lit with his signature friendly smile.
"He was shocked and said I wasn't being considerate. He asked what kind of life it was to live with someone and not know their whereabouts. I told him I was respecting your privacy!" Xu Liang added, laughing.
Yibo sheepishly ran his hand through his hair. "It's my fault, brother. I didn't mean to disappear for so long. I had to travel to Dong guan for an assignment with the boss."
"You see? This is what I keep telling you. Working under people with such high commitments leaves you no time for yourself. You should start considering a change; it's the best way to move forward," Xu Liang advised.
Smiling faintly, Yibo replied, "I'll need your prayers for that, brother. Let's hope for a better opportunity."
"Amen to that. Alright, we'll be off now," Xu Liang said, getting into his car.
Yibo watched them leave, pondering how their conversations always followed a similar pattern. Yet, he never fully grasped why they felt so predictable.
Though he hadn't planned to speak with Wu Jing, he felt Xu Liang's watchful gaze might compel him to acknowledge her.
"Are you heading out, Shi Jie?" he asked reluctantly.
"Yes, we are. How was your trip?" she replied with a voice that made his chest tighten uncomfortably.
He nodded curtly. "It went fine. Safe travels."
Wu Jing swallowed her thoughts, her face betraying no emotion, as she walked to the car and joined her family.
Within five minutes, Yibo had showered, feeling as though he'd washed off layers of exhaustion. Standing in front of the mirror, he examined himself, unable to recall the last time he'd gone so long without a proper rest.
"Ever since you mentioned coming back, we've been waiting for you. But when Barrister Xu Liang returned, you still weren't here," Joshua's voice echoed in his memory.
He recalled the scene vividly: Joshua confronting him outside the hotel in Dong guan, where they had been instructed to wait. Their Boss Shi Lei had left them there, taken away in a separate car without explanation.
Joshua had noticed his disheveled state. Yibo's black outfit—shirt, pants, and a cap pulled low over his face—was dusty, with scuff marks on his shoes, evidence of a long and tiresome journey. Instead of replying, Yibo had brushed past Joshua, heading into the hotel, his only desire to freshen up before Shi Lie returned.
But his plans were interrupted. Just as he'd managed to change his clothes, Joshua knocked again, informing him that Shi Lei had returned and they were heading back to Beijing immediately.
Back in the present, Yibo sighed, glancing at his reflection once more. Then, he moved to the large board pinned to the wall. It was cluttered with documents, photographs, and scribbled notes. Some papers were torn, and certain faces in the photographs were crossed out.
With another sigh, Yibo picked up a marker and crossed off three more days on the calendar beside the board. He stared at the remaining dates, his determination unwavering despite the dead ends he had encountered.
Time.
Time is his greatest challenge.
Time is what has brought him to the life he lives now.
And time is what he waits for, to reclaim who he truly is!
:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*
The clock in Ma Jing living room struck eleven sharply, its chimes echoing through the house every hour. At the same moment, Zhan, by the backyard well, emptied a bucket of laundry water through the drainage grate.
Behind him, Xiao, the eldest daughter of Ma Jing, appeared carrying a large container filled with salad vegetables to wash. As she set it down, a young boy arrived at the gate and greeted her.
"I was sent to buy millet cakes for a hundred yuan."
Xiao turned to the boy.
"They ran out a while ago. You can wait for the rice and salad to finish cooking if you'd like."
Without replying, the boy left, and Xiao turned her attention to Zhan.
"Zhan, can you please fetch me a couple well pulley of water to rinse the salad? My arms are so sore...I just finished grinding spices."
Zhan turned, setting down the bucket he was holding.
"I told you earlier to let me help, but you ignored me. Now, hang this shirt by the door to our room."
He handed her the shirt he had just washed. Xiao glanced at the shirt, then back at him.
"Are you going out?"
She recognized the shirt as his only decent one, suitable for going out. The rest were worn-out everyday clothes, some damaged in the fire that engulfed their room.
It had been two weeks since Yu, the youngest son of Ma Jing, started playing with embers in their shared room. Xiao and her siblings had gone to a lesson, leaving only Zhan at home. Yu, left unsupervised, threw a burning coal onto their sleeping mat and walked out.
Due to everyone's general indifference in the household, no one noticed the fire until it had nearly destroyed the room. Only then did Ma Jing step out to cut cassava and scream for help. By the time the fire was doused, most of the damage had been done.
Becouse the house was crowded with children, and Zhan, having no special status in the family, was grouped with his female siblings. They all shared one bedroom. As Zhan grew older and became more aware, he realized it was inappropriate for him to continue staying there. He decided to move to the Mama's living room, sleeping on her sofa. At first, Mama seemed to unppreciate his decision, but over time, something changed. Perhaps her thoughts shifted, or she simply became different, because she stopped addressing the situation. He continued to sleep in the living room while keeping his belongings and managing his daily life in the shared bedroom.
However, Zhan suffered the greatest loss, including a week's worth of unwashed laundry and a folder containing his school documents. The only saving grace was that the wardrobe where they stored a few remaining clothes had not caught fire. They were left with just enough to get by, and a neighbor, Mrs. Tai, gave them a worned rug to cover the bare floor.
Later, amidst much arguing, Ma Jing reluctantly offered 50,000 yuan for damages....a sum Zhan never saw again.
"I'm planning to visit Aunty Rui's place this afternoon," Zhan said as he pulled up the well pulley of water.
"Oh, I wish I could go too. Mei told me there's a good vegetable vendor near their street."
Mei, Aunty Rui's daughter, was around the same age as Xiao and even in the same class at school.
"You should ask if you can join me," Zhan suggested, pouring water into the salad bowl.
"Yeah, right. Do you think they'll let me? With Yu still recovering and Mama knowing I'd just end up frying Tofu, they'll never agree."
"Didn't Baba tell you to stop selling fried food in the streets?"
"Xiao roll her eyes, and you think Mama care about that?."
If there was one thing all of Xiao's siblings shared, it was their sharp tongues and lack of deference. They even spoke to their mother in the same manner, which occasionally led to disagreements but rarely changed anything.
As Xiao turned to hang the shirt, Zhan said, "Bring some salt while you're at it, so I can wash this for you."
Just then, Mama stepped out of her room, catching the end of their conversation. She hurried toward Zhan, her expression sharp.
"So, the self-proclaimed helper, huh? Sticking your nose where it doesn't belong again! How many times do I have to tell you to stop doing their chores? Leave Xiao to handle her own work."
Zhan, startled by Mama's reprimand, set the well pulley down and began tucking his hair into his hat.
"Here," Mama said, handing him a crumpled wad of cash. "Go to the water vendor and ask for 22 bags. Tell them I'll settle the bill this week."
Zhan took the money, bowing slightly out of habit.
"Count it to make sure it's correct," Mama instructed as Ning approached them.
"Mama, can I get change from you? I need Zhan to bring some ingredients for ginger drink. Nei is visiting later."
Mama turned to Ning, her expression irritated.
"I'm getting tired of spending money on that man who refuses to say a word about where this relationship is going."
Ning's suitor, Nei, was highly regarded in the family. After finishing high school, Ning had a string of admirers whom she dismissed one by one. She was adamant that she would only marry someone wealthy, unlike her Aunt Rui, whose husband wasn't well-off. Over time, she almost lost all potential suitors, and the constant remarks from her mother about her growing older began to bother her. Eventually, she started considering anyone who came her way.
By a twist of fate, she met Nei, a well-off man with some fortune. Not just Ning, but even her mother and the household admired him. He was pampered and treated like a VIP, which boosted Ning's confidence in front of everyone.
Nei admitted that he had been married before and had three children. However, Ning didn't care about that. Her only goal was to leave her current home and get married. Despite his frequent visits, Nei hadn't made any solid promises. Instead, he kept pacifying her with gifts, which silenced any complaints she might have had.
"Come on, Mother," Ning said. "I've told you his family is coming by the end of the month to finalize everything. And the money I'm spending? It's all coming from him."
"Well, that's fine then. Let's hope everything works out…" her mother replied, clearly tired of the conversation.
With that, Ning turned her attention to Zhan, who was in the room with her.
"How much do you have?"
"Twenty-two thousand," Zhan replied.
"Alright. Deduct seventeen thousand for the plastic bags and ensure you give him the extra two hundred for the drink mix."
"Don't go to Lee's store; head to Sen's. They always add more to their mixes," Ning added.
"Got it," Zhan said before heading to their room. He grabbed Min's shirt, which was hanging on the wardrobe door, slipped it on, and headed outside. On his way, he ran into Xiao, who was in the courtyard carrying a bag of salt she had taken from their room. She informed Zhan she will clean the salad, and Zhan went on his way.
"Zhan… Zhan… Zhan!"
Lan's voice stopped him just as he was about to turn the corner towards the main road.
He turned to see Lan approaching. She was dressed in her usual medical school uniform, her fresh perfume filling the air as she smiled brightly. Her presence always softened Zhan's mood. Without a doubt, anyone would agree that Lan was the most beautiful young woman in their neighborhood.
"Good afternoon," Zhan greeted politely, slightly bowing out of respect since she was older than him.
"Good afternoon. Are you running errands?"
"Yes, I'm heading to the water station."
"Ah, then we're heading the same way. I'm heading to the main road too. Let's go together."
Walking side by side, Zhan anticipated the question he knew Lan was about to ask.
"Is Hao around?"
She didn't wait long before asking.
"No… he left for Hong Zhou two days ago for work."
"That's why I didn't see him yesterday," Lan muttered.
"Yes, but when he's back, I'll let you know," Zhan offered.
"I was thinking you wouldn't even have to let me know, Zhan. I need a favor."
Zhan turned to look at her, already knowing what was coming. Every time they met, Lan would ask about Hao, but this time felt different.
"If I give you something, will you deliver it to him?"
It wasn't that Zhan didn't want to help. He admired Lan and even appreciated the clothes she had once gifted him. However, Hao was another story—he wasn't sure how to approach him.
"I'd probably fall asleep before he even gets back."
"Then give it to him in the morning before he leaves. Please, Zhan," Lan pleaded.
Left with no other option, Zhan sighed. "Alright, bring it over."
Standing there, Lan tore a page from her notebook, scribbled something on it, and handed it to Zhan. After parting ways, Zhan opened the paper while waiting at the water station. There was no message, only a phone number and her name: Lan.
Zhan shook his head, amused by how Lan seemed to be the one chasing after Hao. From his perspective, Lan lacked nothing. Her parents were well-off, she lived comfortably, and she was pursuing a meaningful education. So why was she so eager to make room for love, a choice that might disrupt her already perfect life?
If there was one thing Zhan couldn't envision for himself, it was having any hope of being accepted in a proper relationship. The countless hurtful remarks he had endured over the years had long killed any expectations he might have had. He had been told time and again that no one would marry someone without a family name or lineage. People believed that every man or woman wanted to marry a man of good standing, someone whose heritage could be passed on to their children.
"Even if someone falls for you, Zhan, their family will never allow it." Ones Min tell him.
Because of this, Zhan never dared to dream big. Back in high school, when his peers, like Min and the other girls in their grade, were busy flaunting their charms to gain the attention of boys, Zhan had kept to himself. He never participated in the excitement of teenage crushes or dating. While others experimented with makeup or fashion, Zhan barely owned any grooming products. The only powder he had ever owned was a gift from Aunty Rui one New Year. Meanwhile, Min never stepped out without her perfectly applied makeup, even for late-night errands.
But Zhan knew it wasn't about appearances. Even if he were to make himself look presentable, the scars that marked his life would always be visible, telling a story that couldn't be hidden. It didn't matter if someone didn't know him personally—neighbors would eagerly fill in the gaps with tales that would make anyone turn away.
So, when asked about his future aspirations, Zhan never had an answer. He longed to study, to better himself, but deep down, he knew it was a distant dream. He couldn't fool himself into believing there was a path forward. As for love, he had long abandoned any notion of finding it. Society had made it clear that he was unworthy.
The one thing he did anticipate was leaving this house one day. Life didn't remain static, after all. Yet he believed the most likely scenario was an arranged marriage orchestrated by his Baba. It would be a union of convenience, not love—probably with someone who just wanted a companion or felt obligated to take him in. This was the only way Zhan could imagine his life changing. That's why, even after finishing high school alongside Min, he merely existed, seeing no purpose or direction for himself.
:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*
"You always have this defeatist attitude, Zhan. It's so frustrating."
As usual, Aunty Rui confronted him one evening, exasperated by his lack of hope.
"I don't know how many times I've told you to stop thinking like this. You're still young! How can you give up on life before it's even started? Just because people say those things about you doesn't mean they're true. Ignore them! Don't let their words settle in your heart, you still have Your Worth."
Zhan merely smiled weakly as he took another bite of the plain rice Aunty Rui had given him. She had noticed how disheveled and tired he looked upon arriving, guessing he hadn't eaten all day.
"Keep praying for yourself, Zhan. Keep pouring your heart out, and eventually, things will fall into place."
He nodded silently, unsure of how to respond, and then stood up to wash his plate. Their modest home, a three-room building with a small yard, a kitchen, and a bathroom, always appeared larger thanks to Aunty Rui's meticulous care. It was a haven of cleanliness and organization.
As Zhan finished washing up, Aunty Rui's youngest child, Ayi, woke up crying from her nap. Zhan rushed into the room to pick her up, smiling as he said, "You waited until I was free to wake up, didn't you?"
Ayi immediately clung to him, still groggy from sleep. Despite her tired state, she held onto Zhan as if he were her favorite person. Soon, her older siblings returned from school, rushing to greet Zhan with hugs and stories about their day.
Zhan felt a warmth in his chest that he rarely experienced elsewhere. This household, with its simple joy and genuine love, was the only place that made him feel like a person who mattered. Aunty Rui treated him as one of her own, and though her husband's affection didn't extend as far, her kindness more than made up for it.
Later that evening, Aunty Rui remembered she needed someone to fetch an item from across the street. She instructed her eldest daughter Mei to accompany Zhan on the errand, setting off a chain of events that neither Zhan nor anyone else could have predicted.
Who is Yibo?
What role does he play in this story?
What do you think Zhan is about to encounter?
Let's find out...THEIR WORTH.
Zhanxianyibo💚♥️💛