Quentin looked at A-Ji carefully and asked, "Are you seriously not going to convince her so we can go ahead with the engagement, considering all the guests that have gathered?"
A-Ji widened her eyes in disbelief, then stood up abruptly. "So, Shuyi, here's Quentin, asking me to convince you so that the engagement can proceed. It's funny how among the children, some actually care about your feelings, while others are completely indifferent. Clearly, Quentin falls into the latter category, or else he would have never tolerated the nonsense Yichen put us through today."
With that, she stormed off to the room, muttering under her breath, "Not my business... As if I'd tell Shuyi to just let it go and move on."
Beiting turned to Zong with a serious expression. "Gege, since AYi has said the wedding won't happen, then it won't. I've always said it wouldn't happen either, and there's nothing that will change that. We need to make it clear to Yichen that no matter how much trouble our mother stirs, we will always stand by her. No one will disrespect her and get away with it....not in this world. You better call the bride's family immediately and inform them the wedding is off so they can start preparing for whatever comes next. Since my mother has spoken, that's final. And honestly, if you knew the kind of humiliation AYi endured today, you wouldn't even be speaking so calmly about this. Are you seriously hesitating about putting Yichen in her place?"
"Well, today she's going to learn her limits," Beiting continued furiously. "Unless I never gave birth!"
With that, she stood up and stormed out of the sitting room.
Yichen pursed her lips and looked away. Quentin, not wanting to remain, got up and walked out as well. Zhan hesitated before quietly following behind him.
Zong then turned to Yichen and said coldly, "Pack your things and leave this house as soon as possible. I don't want to see you here anymore."
She sighed, wiping the tears that had started to gather in her eyes. "Fine, I'll leave. You don't need to repeat yourself. But don't forget who your son is about to marry. You're about to tarnish your reputation and throw away your dignity in front of them-and in front of the entire world. Especially you, Zong, the famous barrister."
As she spoke, she wiped away her tears and turned toward Nainai's room. She pushed the door open, knelt down, and wiped her eyes again. "I'm asking for your forgiveness, mother. Please forgive me. I let my emotions get the best of me."
Nainai stood up, startled. "Goodness! How did she even get in here? Yichen, please, I'm begging you, leave my room. Just go. I don't want any trouble."
Yichen sighed, got to her feet, and left the sitting room.
Meanwhile, Zong and Quentin remained seated, both looking utterly defeated. The situation was becoming impossible to navigate, and time was slipping away-it was almost noon. Calling off the engagement now was out of the question, yet they had no idea how to salvage the situation.
Beiting soon walked back into the sitting room, having been summoned by Zong. She took a seat, glancing at her older brothers.
Quentin spoke first, his voice low. "Beiting, can't you talk to Ayi? Convince her to take back what she said about calling off the engagement? If we must cancel, it would be better for the bride's family to be the ones to call it off. Think about the respect our family commands, and now this disgrace is coming from within our own house. The bride's father is a well-respected elder, and the kind of guests he's invited today... Plus, his younger brother is a close colleague of Zong's, and they get along well..."
Beiting cut him off. "Oh, so maybe I should take AYi to the bride's house and let her cause a scene, just so they'll be the ones to call off the wedding instead? Since everyone already thinks she's an unreasonable troublemaker?"
Zong's expression darkened. "What kind of nonsense is that? Do you even hear yourself, Beiting?"
Beiting stood up sharply. "Oh, I hear myself just fine, Gege. But it's clear to me now that none of you actually care about what happened to our mother today. You're willing to let it slide just because she's 'difficult,' huh? In fact, you don't even believe she was in the right. Well, let me tell you this-if you don't respect her wishes, you'll regret it. I'm washing my hands of this whole thing. And since she's so much trouble, I'll take her out of this house so you can all live in peace with your wives. Yichen can stay too, since she's clearly your favorite troublemaker now."
With that, Beiting stormed out in anger.
Quentin shook his head and said, "Beiting has no sense at all."
Zong let out a deep sigh and said, "I know that everything AYi said about Yichen is true-she's capable of it all. And whatever punishment AYi says I should give her is justified. But calling off the engagement? That's too much. What did the bride's parents do wrong? It's Yichen who wronged her, not them. Honestly, AYi is just letting her emotions take over."
Quentin, who had been listening quietly to his younger brother, asked, "Should we call Uncle Hanba and Uncle Ka Gang to talk to her?"
Zong replied, "You know as well as I do that no one can change AYi's mind unless it's by some miracle....or maybe Zhan himself."
He leaned back against the couch, frustration evident in his posture. "This is a disaster. There's no way we're canceling the engagement. Yichen will face whatever punishment AYi wants, but calling off the wedding is not an option. The girl's parents had nothing to do with this, and we can't embarrass them like this in front of the whole world."
Quentin rubbed his chin, lost in thought, searching for a solution.
By noon, Zong, Quentin, Uncle Hanba, Uncle Ka Gang, and Nainai's half-brother, Changhe, went back to her quarters to plead with her to reconsider. But she didn't even let them finish before driving them out with a wave of her fan. Uncle Hanba nearly stumbled in his rush to get out of her sitting room.
She followed them to the doorway, fuming. "Hypocrites, all of you!"
None of them dared to turn back, though Quentin was visibly seething. Zong forced a tense smile, trying to maintain his composure. Uncle Hanba and Uncle Ka Gang exchanged uneasy glances, while Changhe muttered under his breath, "At least we made it out in one piece."
As soon as Quentin reached his quarters, he walked straight in without knocking. Inside, Yibo and Suyue were sitting at the dining table, speaking in hushed voices about what had happened with Nainai. Beiting was in the bedroom with Yuting.
Hearing the door open, Yuting came out, saw Quentin, and sat down on the couch without saying a word. She knew Beiting was still firm on canceling the engagement and had even started packing her bags.
Quentin leaned his head back against the couch, sighing. "AYi is doing this just to disgrace our family. She's completely ignoring the fact that Zhan isn't our only son-there are others who will have to get married in the future. Does she even realize what kind of message this sends about our family? If this is how things go for a son's wedding, what will happen when it's a daughter's turn? This is a disaster."
Yuting remained silent, unwilling to provoke Beiting any further.
Yibo, however, got up and knelt beside Quentin, lowering his voice as he said, "Fu Qin, please don't be upset."
Quentin didn't respond. He glanced at his watch, his expression grim. "Just one hour left. What are we supposed to tell the guests?"
Yuting had no words of comfort. Quentin stood abruptly and left the sitting room, everyone watching him go. Yuting let out a long sigh, while Yibo quietly got up and left, heading toward Nainai's quarters.
They were sitting together with A-Ji, their plates filled with rice and nearly ten pieces of chicken, eating heartily. Yibo pouted, sat down, and looked at Nainai before saying softly, "Nainai, please reconsider and allow the engagement to happen. Do you really want people in this town to see our family as insignificant?"
Nainai put down the chicken leg in her hand and stared at him with her mouth slightly open. "Did your father send you here to convince me?"
Yibo shook his head. "No one sent me."
Nainai pointed to the door. "Then leave! Since it's not your mother being insulted, why do you care? Useless boy, always meddling in adult matters when you're just a child, go and deal with your own problems."
Angry and humiliated, Yibo stood up abruptly and stormed out of the sitting room. He went straight to his room, where he found Suyue sitting inside.
"Where did you go?" Suyue asked.
Yibo sat on the edge of the bed and sighed. "I went to talk to Nainai, but she insulted me instead."
Suyue rolled her eyes. "Why did you even bother? Honestly, I'm happy the wedding is canceled. That girl was so rude to me the first time we met. I hate her with a passion."
"But what about Bobo and Fu Qin's reputation?" Yibo countered. "That's more important than whether the wedding happens or not."
Suyue shrugged. "It's just for a while, dear. Do you really think anyone can make Nainai change her mind?"
Yibo fell silent, then finally said in a low voice, "I know what I need to do. I just hope it works."
Meanwhile, Nainai was at the outdoor sink, washing dishes from their meal while humming a traditional tune. She lifted her head when she heard footsteps.
Standing up straight with a bright smile, she greeted, "Ahhh, welcome, Sen Wen! Welcome!"
Sen Wen, dressed in an expensive white suit that gleamed under the light, walked up to her with a warm smile. "Good evening, Grandma. You never seem to get tired of working."
Nainai widened her eyes, placing a hand on her cheek dramatically. "Should I stop working and die smelling like old age? Heaven forbid! Hurry inside-I'm almost done here."
Sen Wen removed his shoes and stepped into the sitting room, which was filled with the rich scent of burning incense. He settled onto the plush rug just as Nainai entered behind him.
"I'll bring you some food from the engagement-that-never-happened," she said, smiling. "It's delicious! A-Ji gathered plenty for us-more meat than we could finish. My teeth even started aching from eating so much chicken. A-Ji is taking a bath right now."
Still smiling, Sen Wen shook his head. "Grandma, I'm actually full, and I need to be somewhere soon."
Nainai waved a hand dismissively. "Then hurry off and come back later."
Sen Wen hesitated, then ran a hand through his hair. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you first."
Nainai immediately sat down, intrigued. "I'm listening, Sen Wen. I hope all is well?"
Lowering his head slightly, Sen Wen said, "I heard about what happened earlier..."
Before he could finish, Nainai suddenly burst into tears, her voice shaking. "That's exactly why I canceled the engagement, Sen Wen! I refuse to have any part in it. Everything is over-I've already called it off and sent the guests away."
In a gentle voice, Sen Wen said, "Please, Grandma, reconsider. You know how much Uncles value their reputation. People hold this family in high regard. A wise elder is known for patience, and when someone is wronged, it is they who should be granted understanding..."
Nainai quickly said, "Oh, Sen Wen, the engagement has already been called off..."
Sen Wen shook his head. "No, Nainai, please reconsider. I'm asking you to be patient. You've always been known for your wisdom and understanding."
Nainai fell silent, wiping away a tear. After a moment, she sighed. "Honestly, I feel ashamed in front of you, Sen Wen."
He smiled warmly. "Then, please, for my sake, take back your decision."
She hesitated briefly before nodding. "Fine. They've made their own bed-I won't interfere anymore. I'll let it happen."
Sen Wen grinned. "That's wonderful, Nainai! Thank you for listening to me. You're truly wise, and I appreciate it."
Nainai nodded. "After all, what's the point of being an elder if you can't listen to reason? Even the one who created us is patient with us, so who am I to be any different? I've let it go. Here, take my phone and call Quentin, Yibo's father. He's the one who takes these things to heart the most-he treats the bride like his own sister. Let him know so he and the family can relax."
Sen Wen accepted the phone, searched for the number saved under "Quentin," and made the call before handing it back. When Quentin answered, Nainai spoke firmly.
"I'm done fighting this. Even the heavens show patience with us. Tell the girl to pack her things and go stay at Zhan's house for a while. I want to see her behavior firsthand-whether she's truly a good person or not. This will also give Zhan time to develop feelings for her. That's as much patience as I can offer right now."
Without waiting for a response, she ended the call. Turning to Sen Wen, she sighed. "Even Yichen never gave me this kind of trouble. I don't know what kind of darkness has taken root in that girl's heart today, but she has really done herself harm. Maybe the loud music they were playing got to her head, but she completely ignored me in this house. She barely even greeted me properly, and she had the nerve to sit down before acknowledging me. And Zong, as stubborn as ever, immediately decided to send her home. Honestly, I just feel sorry for her now."
Sen Wen simply watched her with a small smile. "Please don't be upset, Nainai."
She huffed. "I'm not one to hold grudges. They respect me, and I respect them-I won't accuse them unfairly."
Just then, Quentin entered the sitting room with Zong and Uncle Hanba. Nainai beamed. "Ah, welcome!"
Sen Wen greeted them all politely, and Nainai continued, "A wise elder listens, and I refuse to be one who makes mistakes. This young man, Sen Wen, spoke to me, and I've reconsidered. The girl should prepare to move in with Zhan so we can observe her before the wedding. May this decision bring blessings. And to think Sen Wen arrived just in time-word must have spread far and wide already. People talk..."
She shook her head and added, "If you had known how to handle me, this wouldn't have taken so long. Honestly, none of you were smart about this. But fine, I've let it go-tell her to come."
Zong smiled slightly. "That's great news, Nainai. We truly appreciate it. May you always be blessed."
She nodded. "Now go on, and may fortune follow you. Sen Wen, stay behind-I'll serve you some food. There's plenty, including some really good chicken."
Sen Wen smiled as he stood up and said, "Alright, I'll be back."
He followed Quentin outside while Zong turned to Sen Wen and said, "Even though this wasn't how we originally wanted things to go, I'm truly grateful for your efforts. May you be rewarded for this."
Sen Wen simply smiled without responding, and with that, they all left the house. As they stepped out, Zong dialed Zhan's number.
Zhan was utterly shocked when he heard that Nainai had changed her mind and that Ning Li would be moving into his house before their wedding. What surprised him even more was that it was Sen Wen who convinced her. His reaction was so intense that both his father and Quentin were taken aback.
They proceeded to visit Ning Li's parents to explain the situation and discuss the sudden change of plans. If Ning Li agreed, she could move in with Zhan since they already exchange wedding gifts, which was a better alternative than canceling the wedding entirely.
Zhan rushed home, barely seeing where he was going due to his anger and frustration. Without hesitation, he stormed into Nainai's quarters.
At the same time, Yibo was coming from Nainai's part, carrying a food warmer. As he turned the corner, he nearly collided with Zhan. Before he could react, Zhan grabbed him roughly, causing him to drop the food in shock.
Zhan's eyes burned with fury as he glared at Yibo, his expression dark and menacing. His voice was sharp and demanding as he growled, "Who the hell sent you to make your boyfriend go and talk to Nainai? Who told you to interfere?!"
Yibo stood frozen, unable to utter a word as he stared at Zhan, fear evident in his wide eyes.
Zhan's voice thundered again, "I asked you a question! Or do I have to slap you before you answer? Who sent you? Who told you to interfere?!"
Tears welled up in Yibo's eyes as he lowered his head, unable to respond. Zhan finally released him and leaned against the wall, his heart pounding. Yibo carefully stepped over the spilled food and hurried away, wiping his eyes. Zhan watched him go, his own chest still heaving with suppressed rage. He pressed his head against the wall, trying to calm himself, but it took him more than two minutes before he finally pushed himself away and headed back to his quarters, his vision slightly blurred with frustration.
🔹▫️🔸
Later that evening, Yibo lay on his bed with his eyes closed, though he wasn't asleep. His phone vibrated beside him, and he opened his eyes, glancing at the screen. Ever since his confrontation with Zhan, he had locked himself in his room, refusing to come out despite Suyue's constant urging. He was in no mood for anything.
Slowly, he picked up the call when he saw that it was Sen Wen.
"Hello," Sen Wen greeted from the other end.
Yibo's voice was barely above a whisper as he replied, "Hello."
"Are you okay, dear?" Sen Wen asked gently.
Yibo hesitated before answering, "I'm not feeling well."
Sen Wen's voice immediately filled with concern. "Oh no, you're not feeling well? You must have stressed yourself too much. What's wrong? What exactly are you feeling?"
In a quiet tone, Yibo replied, "My whole body aches."
Sen Wen sighed. "That's not good. Have you taken any medicine?"
Yibo nodded as if Sen Wen could see him and mumbled, "Yes."
"Alright," Sen Wen said, relieved. "I'll bring you something now. Take it before bed, and you'll feel much better."
Yibo simply responded, "Okay."
"I'll call you when I get there," Sen Wen assured him before hanging up. Yibo put his phone down and closed his eyes again.
At five minutes to five, Sen Wen called him again from outside. Yibo was about to step out when he suddenly remembered the birthday gift he had prepared. He quickly grabbed the flower and card, tucking them inside his jacket before heading out.
There were a few guests in the sitting room, so Yibo made his way quietly toward Yuting's room. Not finding her inside, he stepped onto the balcony, where Yuting and Yong Dan were chatting.
Yuting noticed him and asked, "Where are you going?"
Lowering his gaze, Yibo answered, "Mu Qin, I won't be long. Someone is waiting for me outside."
Yuting's eyes flicked to his jacket, noticing how he was holding it closed. "What are you hiding in there?" she asked.
Yibo smiled shyly and lowered his head. "It's nothing, just a small package."
Yong Dan chuckled and waved him off. "Go on, then."
Yibo smiled slightly and hurried out.
Outside, Sen Wen leaned against his car, his sunglasses perched on his nose, dressed in casual but stylish clothes. Yibo walked up to him, lowering his gaze.
"How are you feeling now?" Sen Wen asked with a hint of concern.
"A little better," Yibo replied with a small smile.
Sen Wen opened the bag in his hands and handed him some medicine. "Take one tablet of each before you sleep," he instructed.
Instead of taking the medicine immediately, Yibo slowly reached into his jacket and pulled out the flower and card. In a soft voice, he said, "Happy birthday, gain."
Sen Wen blinked, surprised. He stared at the flower in Yibo's hand for a long moment before finally taking it, his eyes widening in delight. "Wow... Thank you so much, baby. I love it!"
Yibo simply smiled. In a low voice, he said, "I'm happy you like it."
Even without words, he could see how much joy it brought Sen Wen.
"But baby, how did you know I love flowers?" Sen Wen asked curiously.
Yibo tilted his head slightly and answered, "I just guessed."
Sen Wen closed his eyes briefly, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I feel like hugging you right now, sweetheart."
Yibo merely smiled but turned his face away, avoiding his gaze. "I should go back inside now," he said softly. "And... I'm sorry, but I won't be able to attend your birthday party. I'm not feeling well."
His voice was subdued, almost guilty.
Sen Wen's face fell slightly, but he quickly masked it with understanding. "It's okay, dear. Get some rest. Thank you so much, and I'll call you later."
Yibo nodded lightly. "Alright. Thank you."
With that, he turned and walked back inside. Sen Wen watched him go, still smiling to himself.
:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*
Beiting was sitting in Nainai's sitting room with A-Ji, clearly displeased. She sighed in frustration and said, "Honestly, AYi, do you think this is fair? After all the effort I put into defending your honor, you just throw it back in my face like this?"
Nainai lowered her voice and said, "Beiting, what was I supposed to do? Everyone was apologizing and asking me to let it go. Should I have just lost my temper like some lunatic?"
"A person of wisdom is known for their patience. Didn't you see how full this sitting room was earlier? Everyone came to apologize to me. Even Sen Wen himself walked in here and asked me to forgive and forget. Now, unless I'm some bitter old woman who refuses to listen to reason, shouldn't I find it in my heart to move on? And honestly, Yichen has never treated me this way before. Something must have really gotten into her today..."
A-Ji narrowed her eyes at Nainai and pointed a finger at her. "You're unbelievable, Shuyi. You had us all worked up, fighting on your behalf, only for you to turn around and act like nothing happened? If you had a problem with Yichen, you should have called me to come and deal with it! But you didn't, and now I refuse to listen to any complaints from you in the future. And you, Beiting, why are you even stressing over this? This is typical Shuyi-two-faced as always. I'm not even surprised. But what I can't understand is why that fool Sen Wen would come all the way here just to convince her?"
"After everything that wretched girl Yichen did to us? Honestly, Shuyi, may you find wisdom. As for me, I'm done with this conversation."
Nainai's expression hardened. "I am not some foolish woman who will keep holding onto anger like a mountain of resentment! And let me tell you something-Sen Wen means more to me than anyone else. He is a respectable young man, calm and wise beyond his years. He spoke to me in such a way that even Zong and the others couldn't match. So what else could I say to him except to wish him well? In fact, if he doesn't marry Yibo, it will only be over my dead body! That boy is meant to be with Yibo, and that's final! I won't even compare him to some of my other relatives-Sen Wen is far better than them. As for Yichen, she's already locked away in the mess she created for herself. She had the nerve to be disrespectful to me? She's lucky she wasn't thrown out on the streets!"
A-Ji stood up abruptly. "Well, since you've embarrassed me and Beiting today, may karma take its course. And as for Yichen, don't worry-we'll see how long she stays away. She'll be back in this house soon enough."
Nainai scoffed. "If you think I've forgiven Yichen, you're mistaken. That girl is nothing but trouble. And as for this so-called wedding, let's wait and see. If she truly loves him, let her prove it-no need for any pretenses."
A-Ji rolled her eyes. "Fine, whatever. In the meantime, you should have Quentin handle the payment for Yibo's medical expenses so we can settle this matter once and for all." With that, she stormed out of the room.
Nainai sighed and said, "May our bonds remain strong, A-Ji. May the spirits of our ancestors watch over us and bless us with good fortune. You have done so much for me-I am truly grateful. May we stay together as a family, and soon, you'll be back here for Yibo and Meiling's wedding, I promise! I'll even come to your house personally to celebrate with you!"
Beiting stood up, her face still tense with frustration, and left the room without another word. Nainai watched her go, then muttered under her breath, "What is everyone so worked up about? Do they think I don't know what I'm doing? I never asked anyone to swear on my behalf in the first place..."
That night, Beiting didn't stay at home; she went to visit her husband's older sister, who lived in the city.
Meanwhile, in the sitting room, Nainai sat with Suyue, sharing a meal. It was past eight when the door suddenly opened. Both turned to look as Zhan walked in, his presence immediately filling the room with a warm, intoxicating scent. He looked exceptionally handsome in a crisp, milk-colored shirt that clung to his frame.
Suyue, smiling playfully, teased, "Groom-to-be, you're still here? I thought you would've left by now."
Zhan said nothing in response. He simply sat down. Yibo, on the other hand, kept his gaze firmly on his plate, avoiding looking in Zhan's direction since the moment their eyes briefly met. He continued eating in silence.
From inside her room, Nainai's voice called out, "Is that Zhan?"
"Yes," Suyue answered.
Nainai hurried out, her face softening with a pleading expression. "I've been looking for you, Zhan. I was wondering if you had already left to Ning Li's without saying goodbye..."
At first, he didn't respond, but after a moment, he said, "I'm leaving now."
Nainai sat down and suddenly burst into quiet sobs. "So that's it? From now on, you'll only visit us, say a quick hello, and leave? No more staying the night here? No more early morning greetings? Who will sit with me and chat like before? You're really leaving me all alone, just like that? You were the only one I had, Zhan. The only one who kept me company, and now you're leaving before you're even married. I knew this day would come, but..."
Zhan unknowingly let out a small smile but remained silent, idly scrolling through his phone.
Wiping her tears, Nainai's voice trembled as she continued, "That's life, I suppose... Well, I pray you and Ning Li have a happy life together. In a few days, Yibo will accompany me to visit your new home. I need to see how you're living and give my blessings to your future wife. You know you've never done anything to hurt me, Zhan. May you be blessed always."
Zhan smiled faintly and murmured, "Amen."
Standing up, he said, "Goodnight, then."
Nainai's crying intensified as she clutched her head in despair. Suyue, struggling to hold back her laughter, glanced at Yibo, who was quietly pushing his food around on his plate.
Through her tears, Nainai wailed, "Oh, life is so cruel..."
Suyue, still amused, said, "Wishing you a happy marriage in advance, Gege . We'll visit soon."
Forcing a small smile, Zhan nodded and turned toward the door.
Just as he stepped outside, Nainai turned to Yibo, narrowing her eyes. "Aren't you going to wish your brother happiness in his life? Or are you jealous?"
Zhan didn't pause; he continued walking away.
Yibo watched him go, then suddenly pushed back his plate and ran after him.
Suyue, eyes wide with surprise, turned to Nainai. "Wait... he's crying?"
Nainai sobbed harder. "Of course he is! Do you have any idea what Zhan went through raising Yibo? From the time he was just a baby? Do you know how much effort he put into taking care of him? Even Yibo's own father didn't struggle for him the way Zhan did. That boy clung to Zhan like a shadow, following him everywhere. No matter where Zhan went, Yibo was always right there, attached to his side.
"He gave him a hard time growing up, always needing attention, needing to be carried, getting sick... And Zhan was always the one who stayed up all night nursing him. Their bond is unbreakable. And now you think he wouldn't cry? Of course, he's crying! Today is the day they separate forever..."
She broke down completely, sliding from the couch to sit on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Suyue, on the other hand, couldn't stop laughing quietly.
Outside, Yibo spotted Zhan already far down the path. He sprinted after him and called out, "Gege!"
Zhan stopped, turning to face him.
Yibo didn't even realize when the tears spilled over. He ran to Zhan, throwing himself into his arms, his voice shaking.
"Please don't go to her. I can't take this anymore. I can't watch you be with her. Take me instead, Gege. Please... Today. Do whatever you want with me, but just don't go to her."
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛