Ning Li was certain that Zhan had truly gone to see Nainai. Watching as Yibo left with Meiling, she simply turned back toward Yichen, continuing their conversation about how to deal with Yibo and Sen Wen's marriage. They hadn't been able to discuss it earlier with Zhan present.
Yichen then detailed her last visit to the spiritualist, where she had spent a significant amount of money... selling off nearly all her minor assets just to pay him. In her presence, after explaining that this matter was not about mere restless spirits but about Jinns, the spiritualist called upon one. Although she couldn't see it, she clearly heard its voice as it assured the man that, if he performed the necessary ritual, two of its kind would be assigned.... one to enter Sen Wen's body and the other to possess Yibo.
For Sen Wen, the plan was to instill a strong aversion to marrying Yibo, making him despise the idea outright. This would cause him to call off the wedding himself. As for Yibo.... due to Yichen's deep-seated hatred and her desire to ruin Yuting's happiness..... he would be cursed with an overwhelming, desperate love for Sen Wen. So much so that even after Sen Wen rejected him, Yibo would continue chasing after him, pleading for marriage. This, in turn, would bring immense shame and distress to Yuting.
However, after further investigation, the spiritualist warned Yichen of a slight complication. He had glimpsed parts of Yibo's future and noted that the thread of his destiny was very intact, indicating a potential soul bond with someone else. Though he couldn't see who it was, only a shadow, he recognized that the bond was powerful.... strong enough to be Yibo's true soul partner. This meant that interfering fully with Yibo's fate would be difficult.
Yichen didn't care. As long as she could prevent Yibo and Sen Wen's marriage and destroy Yuting's peace, she was satisfied. Whoever this soul partner was, they were irrelevant to her. If It wasn't her beloved Zhan, or someone of immense wealth, so no need to worry. She instructed the spiritualist to focus on making Yibo detest this unknown person.... at least until her goal was achieved. If she later discovered the individual was wealthy, then she would deal with them accordingly.
The spiritualist nodded in agreement, performed additional readings, and suddenly smiled, saying, "Soon, you will be a grandmother of two."
He didn't elaborate further, as it wasn't relevant to the ritual, but Yichen left in high spirits, believing it referred to Ning Li.
Now, as Ning Li sat in front of her, Yichen smiled and asked, "You're glowing more than usual… could it be that you're pregnant, Ning Li?"
Ning Li stopped chewing her gum and gave Yichen a sharp look. After a moment, she scoffed, "If I were pregnant, I'd be the happiest person alive. At least then, even if Zhan refuses to acknowledge me, he'd be forced to marry me. But honestly, I don't understand him. It's not like he's incapable....when I use my tricks, he reacts....but aside from a few kisses and touches, he won't go further. Whenever I complain, he says he's a 'traditional man' and will only sleep with me after marriage." Ning Li spoke shamelessly, her expression firm.
Yichen fell into deep thought. If it wasn't Ning Li, then it must be Yu, meaning she was likely pregnant with twins.
🔹▫️▪️🔸
On the way, Yibo asked the rickshaw driver to stop by a fruit stand, where he bought four different kinds of fruit before continuing their journey. After nearly twenty minutes, they arrived at a large, upscale hospital, clearly one meant for the wealthy.
As soon as they stepped out of the rickshaw, before Yibo could pay, Meiling handed the driver the fare. Yibo simply pulled out his phone and called Mian Mian's number. She answered almost immediately.
"We're outside," Yibo said.
"Okay, I'm coming," Mian Mian replied.
After ending the call, Yibo and Meiling entered the hospital courtyard. It didn't take long before Mian Mian appeared, smiling warmly. They exchanged greetings and inquired about the patient's health.
"She's doing much better," Mian Mian assured them. "Come, let's go inside."
They followed her to a special ward, a large private room with a single bed, several chairs, a small wall-mounted TV, and curtains covering the windows. Even at a glance, it was clear the ward was reserved for important patients.
Inside, Sen Wen's mother sat on a chair, along with her sister and a close friend of the family. On the bed lay Yu yi , Sen Wen's younger sister, fast asleep with an IV attached to her arm. Another young girl, the youngest of Sen Wen's siblings, stood nearby, holding an incense stick and a matchbox.
Yibo lowered his head respectfully and stepped forward, greeting them politely.
Sen Wen's mother acknowledged him with a lingering gaze, while the other women in the room also responded to his greeting. One of them gestured toward the chairs and said, "Please, have a seat."
Meiling was the first to sit down. Yibo, however, remained standing until Sen Wen's mother's sister repeated herself, instructing him to sit. Even then, he kept his head down. Mian Mian, smiling, glanced at her stepmother and said, "Aunty, this is the one Sen Wen ge is going to marry."
Mochen studied Yibo carefully before recognition dawned on her face. "Isn't he the one who gave the speech with you the other day? We even took pictures together."
Mian Mian laughed. "Yes, Aunty, I knew you'd remember him."
Hare, Mian Mian's Mom, smiled warmly while watching Yibo, who still refused to lift his head. He was clearly uncomfortable. Mochen gave a small smile and said, "Well, that's wonderful. May this union be blessed."
"Amen," Mian Mian replied. "But you should know, Aunty, they've been together even before the speech."
"That's even better," Mochen said approvingly.
Hare turned to Yibo and asked, "How is your grandmother?"
Quietly, he responded, "She sends her regards."
"Thank you. May she be blessed," Hare said, and the others echoed a soft "Amen."
Yibo finally raised his head slightly and glanced around the hospital ward, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Then, his gaze fell on Sen Wen's younger sister, sitting in a chair nearby, holding two incense sticks that were already burning. He quickly looked away and subtly covered his nose with his face mask.
Meiling immediately noticed and touched his arm, whispering, "Just say goodbye, and let's leave."
Yibo remained silent. Meanwhile, the conversation between the others continued.
Meiling stood up and addressed them. "Aunties, we should be heading out now. Here, please give this to the patient. Wishing her a quick recovery." She placed a small bag on the table.
Hare responded, "You're leaving already? Thank you so much. May you be blessed."
Mochen nodded. "We appreciate it. Send our regards to everyone at home."
Meiling reached for Yibo's hand, guiding him toward the door while responding, "We will. Thank you."
Mochen smiled at Yibo and asked, "By the way, what's your name?"
Meiling answered for him. "Yibo."
At that moment, Yibo pulled his hand away and quickly walked toward the door....just as it opened and Sen Wen stepped inside.
Before Yibo could exit, he suddenly staggered, crouching at the doorway, gasping for air and coughing violently.
Mian Mian and Meiling rushed to his side in alarm, while Hare, Mochen, and the others in the ward stood up in shock, hurrying toward him.
Sen Wen shoved his phone into his pocket and knelt beside Yibo, lifting him slightly as he examined him in concern. "Yibo, are you okay?"
Mian Mian quickly extinguished the incense that Sen Wen's sister had been holding. At that moment, everyone realized the cause of Yibo's sudden asthma attack.
Seeing Yibo struggling for breath on the floor was heartbreaking. The entire ward was thrown into chaos.
Meiling knelt down and hurriedly pulled his bag off his shoulder, frantically searching for an inhaler, but she found nothing.
Realizing there was no time to waste, Sen Wen lifted Yibo and carried him out of the ward.
Hare immediately followed, looking worried, and Meiling and Mian Mian rushed after them.
Watching them leave, Mochen sighed in distress. "We had no idea he had asthma. If we knew, she wouldn't have lit that incense. And yet, they just stayed silent instead of saying something."
Her friend nodded in agreement. "Exactly. They should have spoken up. Now look at what happened."
Another woman shook her head. "Unbelievable. Everyone is looking for a healthy partner, yet Sen Wen's bringing someone with a serious condition into his life. Just imagine.... the smallest bit of smoke triggered his asthma. If something like this can set it off, what happens when he's exposed to actual dust or even cooking fumes? This is serious."
Mochen said nothing, but her expression darkened slightly as her sister stood up and left the ward to follow the others.
Sen Wen sat beside Yibo, who lay restless in one of the hospital ward beds. He kept shifting uncomfortably, struggling to breathe. Hare watched him with deep concern, whispering soft reassurances. Mochen stood by the window, arms crossed, observing him silently. Mian Mian had tears in her eyes, while Meiling sat close to Sen Wen, holding his hand.
A doctor entered the ward and looked at Yibo. "Sit upright now," he instructed.
Sen Wen immediately stood to help him sit up, and with Meiling's assistance, Yibo managed to do so.
"How are you feeling now?" the doctor asked.
Yibo didn't respond, but after a moment, Sen Wen softly said, "He said his chest hurts..."
The doctor smiled, patting Sen Wen's shoulder. "Are you sure you'd be useful if there was an emergency at your house in the middle of the night, Doctor?" he teased.
Hare scoffed. "That's exactly how he is, Doctor. I swear he forgets he's a doctor when he's in situations like this."
The doctor chuckled before turning back to Yibo, whose head rested against the pillow. "Have you ever needed an injection when your asthma flared up and no inhaler was available?"
Without lifting his head, Yibo nodded weakly.
"Alright, don't worry. The medication we gave you will help. You should be fine soon," the doctor reassured him.
Yibo remained silent. Looking at Sen Wen, the doctor said, "We'll check on him again in a few hours. Just make sure he rests."
Sen Wen nodded. "I will. Thank you."
With a final nod to the group, the doctor left after greeting Mochen.
Sen Wen leaned closer to Yibo and whispered, "I'm sorry, dear."
Yibo didn't reply.
"Try to lie down properly," Sen Wen urged gently. Slowly, Yibo adjusted himself, exhaling softly.
Mochen and Hare kept watching him, their concern evident. Finally, Mochen said, "I'll go check on the other ward," and left. Hare pulled up a chair and sat down, and soon, Yibo drifted into sleep.
Meiling and Mian Mian sat nearby, watching over him. When Yibo's phone rang inside his bag, Meiling took it out and saw Yuting's number on the screen. She answered quietly.
"Hello?"
Yuting's voice was soft and worried. "Where is Yibo, Meiling?"
Meiling sighed. "He had an asthma attack and was admitted to the hospital, but he's doing better now. He's asleep."
Mian Mian's mother, who was also in the ward, overheard the conversation and reached out for the phone. Meiling quickly handed it to her.
After exchanging greetings, Hare explained the situation. "He's stable now, thankfully. He's resting, and if all goes well, he should be able to come home later."
"That's good to hear," Yuting said with relief. "Thank you for everything."
"There's no need to thank us," Hare assured her. "We're just glad he's okay."
After ending the call, she returned the phone to Meiling.
▪️🔸▫️🔹
By 4 PM, Sen Wen returned to the ward carrying a bag of prescribed medications. Mian Mian and Meiling were the only ones there; Hare had gone to check on Mochen.
As he approached Yibo's bed, he frowned at how tightly curled up Yibo was. Placing his hand on Yibo's forehead, he felt the heat radiating from his skin.
Yibo's red-rimmed eyes slowly opened, meeting Sen Wen's concerned gaze. His lips were flushed red, and his exhaustion was evident.
Kneeling beside him, Sen Wen asked, "Are you okay, Yibo? Does your chest still hurt?"
Yibo tried to sit up but struggled, clutching his back in pain. Sen Wen immediately helped him.
"Where does it hurt?" Sen Wen asked, eyes full of worry.
In a weak voice, Yibo muttered, "I feel really hot inside, but at the same time, I'm cold... and my back aches."
Sen Wen fell silent, his concern deepening. He turned and quickly left the room, returning with the doctor.
At that moment, Mochen entered, having come back to check on Yibo before heading home. She stood by his bedside, noticing his discomfort.
"Are you feeling pain anywhere else?" she asked gently.
Yibo shook his head weakly, saying nothing.
The doctor stepped closer, placing a hand on Yibo's arm, and asked, "Tell me what you're feeling right now."
Yibo slowly shook his head, his eyes filled with tears, and said, "I just want to go home."
Sen Wen insisted, "No, tell him where it hurts."
With great difficulty, Yibo replied, "Joint pain… and my body aches."
The doctor placed a hand on Yibo's forehead, studying him before asking, "Does this happen often?"
Yibo gave a slight nod. The doctor examined his eyes for a moment, then turned to Sen Wen and asked, "Is he a sickle cell patient?"
Sen Wen shook his head and replied, "He only carries the trait."
The doctor nodded. "What medications do you take at home?"
Summoning his strength, Yibo answered, "There are many."
"Do you know their names?" the doctor asked.
"I will get his medication now," Sen Wen interjected, "but please give him an injection first." With that, he left the ward.
At Home
Zihan walked into the sitting room, her purse in hand. She exchanged greetings with Zhan, who was sitting there, and then turned to Yichen. "I'm heading out, I'll be back later," she said.
"Where are you going? It's getting late," Yichen asked with concern.
"I'm visiting someone at the hospital," Zihan replied.
Surprised, Yichen asked, "Who's unwell?"
"You wouldn't know them," Zihan said evasively.
Just then, Zong entered the sitting room and looked at Zihan. "You haven't left yet?" he asked.
"We're just about to go," she replied.
Zong nodded. "I'll stop by the hospital later," he said.
Yichen, still puzzled, turned to Zong and asked, "Who is sick?"
Zong glanced at Zihan. "You didn't tell her?" he asked, but Zihan remained silent and headed for the door.
Shaking his head, Zong explained, "Yibo and Meiling went to see Sen Wen younger sister at the hospital, but his asthma flared up, so he's there now as well."
Zhan stared at Zong, his expression unreadable.
Yichen gasped, clapping her hands together in distress. "And you were hiding this from me? Why? What's the point of keeping secrets like this? So, Zihan knew and decided to visit him, but I, wasn't supposed to? Do you think I wouldn't care? My heart isn't that cold!"
Fuming, she turned to Zhan. "Get ready.... we're going too. I don't care what anyone says!"
Zong ignored her outburst and walked away to his own sitting area.
Yichen stormed upstairs, and Zhan silently followed Zihan outside. He spotted Yuting approaching with her usual calm demeanor.
"Good evening," Zhan greeted politely.
"Good evening," Yuting responded. "How is he?"
"He's stable," Yuting replied softly.
"Then let's go," Zhan said.
At that moment, Yichen reappeared, eyeing Zihan with barely concealed irritation. "So you thought you could hide this from me, did you?" she scoffed.
Zihan didn't respond and simply walked toward the gate. Yuting remained silent as well, choosing not to engage.
"Keeping secrets never helps anyone," Yichen muttered. Then, turning to Zhan, she asked, "Are you driving us?"
Without looking at her, Zhan replied, "Yes."
The car ride was silent, with no one speaking until Zihan finally directed Zhan toward the hospital.
Meiling met them at the hospital entrance and guided them to Yibo's ward. Inside, Mochen was sitting beside Yibo's bed, watching over him as he slept peacefully. Sen Wen's two younger siblings and his sister Mian Mian were also present.
As Zihan and Yuting entered the room, Mochen stood to greet them with a warm smile.
"His condition has improved," she reassured them. "He just needs to finish the second IV drip."
"That's a relief," Zihan said. "May he recover quickly. And thank you all for taking care of him."
"Of course," Mochen replied with a kind smile. "We just want him to be okay."
From the doorway, Zhan stood silently, his gaze fixed on Yibo, watching his chest rise and fall with each steady breath.
Just then, Sen Wen returned to the ward.
Sen Wen greeted Zihan respectfully, then turned to Yichen, who had been watching him closely.
"How are you?" Yichen asked.
"All is well," he replied.
Yichen sighed. "May he get better soon. And may you all have the strength to care for him. It's always the same.... one day he's sick, the next he seems fine. We can't even understand it anymore. I just hope he recovers from this illness that refuses to go away."
Zhan, who had been silently watching his mother, walked over to the hospital bed where Yibo was sleeping. He reached out to feel his forehead....no fever, just deep sleep. Yichen kept eyeing him from the side, her expression unreadable.
Zihan turned to Mochen and said, "Well, since you're here, we'll be heading back now. Thank you so much."
Mochen smiled. "Oh, don't mention it. We just do what we can. May he recover quickly, and may we all be blessed with good health."
Yuting also thanked her before bidding farewell. Yichen, however, remained seated, watching them leave with a slight frown.
"You're acting like we're being chased out," she muttered, adjusting her seat. "The boy hasn't even woken up, and you're saying we should leave? Well, I'm staying."
Yuting didn't argue and simply left with Meiling. Zhan remained standing, still watching his mother with a neutral expression. Zihan, who had been observing, made her way to the door while scrolling through her phone.
Once outside the ward, she placed a call. After a moment, she said, "Well, there's your wife, standing in front of Yibo's in-laws, saying all sorts of inappropriate things about your nephew's illness. We've just left, and she insists on staying.... probably so she can continue her nonsense without us around. If you want her to leave, you'd better call her yourself. Honestly, if she really cared, she would have been here from the start."
She hung up before waiting for a response, her face stern.
Yuting smiled as they walked away, but barely a minute later, Zong called Yichen, who had been watching Mochen and saying, "Thank you so much for everything. May you be rewarded. It's all in fate's hands... one day he's ill, the next he's fine."
The ringing of her phone made her pause. She glanced at the screen before answering.
Before she could say anything, Zong's voice came through, firm and unwavering.
"Yichen, all of you come home right now."
She hesitated. "For what reason?"
"Just come home. Now."
"Alright," she muttered and ended the call, her face unreadable.
She sat in silence for a few minutes, staring at Yibo, then suddenly stood up with a forced smile.
"Well, since they said we should go, I suppose we'll be leaving. We all came in one car. I'll be back in the morning. Thank you for everything."
Mochen nodded. "Alright then. Safe journey."
She watched Yichen leave, only turning away once she was out of sight.
Meanwhile, Zhan remained by the bed, his eyes never leaving Yibo. Sen Wen pulled a chair and sat down.
Mochen smiled at Zhan. "He's your brother, isn't he?"
Zhan returned the smile. "Yes, he is."
"That's wonderful. There are chairs, you can sit."
Still watching the IV drip, Zhan replied, "I'm fine standing."
Mochen nodded. "Alright then."
Just then, Mian Mian walked in carrying a food basket . She placed it down and asked, "He still hasn't woken up?"
Mochen shook her head. "No, not yet."
Mian Mian glanced at Zhan and smiled. "Good evening, Doctor."
Zhan returned the smile. "Good evening, Mian Mian."
Mochen looked at him and said, "So, you're a doctor too?"
He simply rubbed the back of his head with a small smile.
Mian Mian quickly added, "Yes, he's a doctor. He works at So…so…so hospital."
Mochen nodded in approval. "That's good."
Zhan remained silent, while Sen Wen kept tapping on his phone, indifferent.
Checking his watch, Zhan said, "I'll be back later."
Mochen nodded. "Alright, see you later."
As he walked to the door and left, Mochen turned to Sen Wen and asked, "Are they related by blood?"
Sen Wen shook his head while still focused on his phone.
Mochen frowned. "Is she Yibo's stepmother? The one who just left?"
Sen Wen looked up and gave a small smile. "Not at all. His mother is the quiet, but the last one who just left is this Yibo's brother's mother."
Mochen didn't ask any further questions.
At 8:30 PM, Yibo woke up from his sleep. Mochen was still sitting beside him with Suyi, while Sen Wen remained absorbed in his phone. Meiling was on the other side, near Sen Wen's younger sister, who was resting in another hospital bed.
Mochen looked at Yibo and said, "How are you feeling?"
He gave a faint smile. "I'm feeling better."
Mochen nodded. "That's good to hear."
Sen Wen kept staring at him, expression unreadable.
Yibo sat up slowly and said, "I need to use the restroom."
Sen Wen got up, carefully removed the IV drip, and helped him sit up. Yibo placed his hands on the bed for support as he felt slightly dizzy.
Mochen kept murmuring words of reassurance.
Suyi stepped forward to assist, but Yibo smiled faintly and said, "I can manage."
With a slight limp, he made his way to the restroom. Mochen watched him carefully.
When Yibo returned, Mochen opened a food container, serving a well-prepared meal of rice and meat that Mian Mian had brought from home.
Mochen handed him the plate. "Eat up."
Yibo sat back on the bed, took the food with a quiet "Thank you," and started eating slowly.
Suyi offered, "Should I make you some tea?"
Yibo shook his head. "This is enough."
The ward door opened, and Zong entered with Meiling.
Sen Wen stood up as Zong walked in.
Mochen greeted him, "Welcome."
Sen Wen also greeted Zong, who responded with warmth, asking about Yibo's condition.
Looking at Yibo, Zong smiled. "How are you feeling now, son?"
Yibo returned the smile. "I'm better, Bobo. How was your day?"
"All good. May you recover quickly," Zong replied.
Mochen also greeted Zong, who asked about the other patients.
She responded, "They're doing much better now."
Zong nodded. "That's good. I pray for their full recovery."
Meiling placed a bag of fruit beside Yibo's bed and said, "Get well soon."
Yibo smiled in appreciation.
Zong then said his goodbyes, mentioning that he wanted to check on Sen Wen's sister.
As he turned to leave, he looked at Yibo again. "Rest well, son. Wishing you a speedy recovery."
"Thank you, Bobo," Yibo replied.
Sen Wen accompanied Zong out.
Barely five minutes after they left, Zhan walked into the room, carrying a plastic bag in his hand.
The moment their eyes met, Yibo quickly looked away.
Zhan stepped inside and greeted Mochen.
"You're back already?" she asked.
"Yeah, I am," he replied, his eyes lingering on Yibo, who stubbornly refused to meet his gaze.
Zhan sighed. "How are you feeling now?"
Still avoiding his eyes, Yibo responded, "I'm better."
Zhan set the bag down on the table and silenced his ringing phone.
Mochen gestured to a chair. "Sit down and relax."
Zhan smiled faintly and took a seat.
Yibo, meanwhile, kept pushing his food around on his plate rather than eating.
Mochen noticed and said, "You're barely eating."
At that, Yibo sighed and took a bite, his gaze momentarily locking with Zhan's before quickly shifting away.
At almost 10 PM, Sen Wen returned to the ward.
He glanced at Yibo once before turning to Mochen. "Do you want to head home now? Since Suyi and her sister are still here?"
Mochen shook her head. "No rush. I'll leave later."
"Alright."
Sen Wen moved closer to Yibo and asked in a low voice, "Are you in any pain?"
Yibo simply shook his head.
"Good. I'm going home for a bit to freshen up. I'll be back soon."
Yibo glanced at him and nodded. "Okay."
Sen Wen smiled slightly, and Yibo lowered his head again.
Turning to Mochen, Sen Wen said, "I'll be back later, Mom."
Mochen nodded. "You didn't even greet the doctor properly."
Sen Wen turned back toward Zhan. "Oh, I didn't even notice him. See you later."
Zhan gave a small smile. "Alright."
With that, Sen Wen left the ward.
Yibo lifted his head and looked at Zhan, only to see him staring at him. He pouted and turned away. Zhan refused to leave the hospital despite the numerous calls from Ning Li and Yichen, which he ignored. It wasn't until Yichen called Meiling and asked her to hand him the phone that he finally picked up.
Meiling handed him the phone while looking at him and said, "Zhan ge…"
He took the phone and put it to his ear. Yichen's voice came through, filled with anger and frustration.
"Zhan, is it your mother's brother or your father's lying on that hospital bed?"
He didn't say anything in response. Yichen, still furious, continued, "Before I completely lose my temper, head home right now! You left someone's daughter all alone in the middle of the night as if it were me lying sick in that hospital bed. What exactly is your connection to this illness?"
Zhan remained silent, then ended the call and handed the phone back to Meiling. Despite Yichen's scolding, he still didn't leave the hospital until around 11 p.m. Even then, it was only because Mochen told him to.
"You don't have any family," Mochen had said.
Zhan didn't reply. Instead, he simply smiled, stood up, and said, "Alright then, good night. May you be rewarded for your kindness."
"Thanks," she responded.
Yibo, who was lying in bed with his eyes closed as if he were asleep, heard Zhan's footsteps. He opened his eyes and watched him until he reached the door. Just as Zhan was about to leave, he turned back to look at him. Yibo quickly shut his eyes again.
Just before Zhan stepped out, Yibo softly said, "Good night, Gege."
Zhan looked at him and replied, "May we wake up in good health." With that, he left and closed the door behind him.
(Honestly, I can never have the patience Zhan's has, I will just leave Yibo forever and ever, no matter how much I love him. Poor Zhan-ge 🥹)
The Next Day
By 11 a.m., Yibo was discharged from the hospital. Mian Mian mother and the others took him home. Yuting and Zihan thanked them, and since they had come with their driver, they didn't stay long before leaving.
:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*:-
One Week Later
With only a week left before Yibo's groom price was to be presented…
Yichen was sitting in the spacious sitting room of Mr. Wen Yo Lee's house with Fang and Ning Li. Ning Li was chewing gum, fully made up and looking stunning. If it weren't for Suyi, who had met them standing at the gate, she have returned from school in her car and saw them at the gate, as the security guards wouldn't have let them in without prior notice. Even now, they had been sitting in the sitting room for over fifteen minutes, waiting for Mochen to appear, all of them sitting in silence like they were attending a funeral.
Eventually, Xulin glanced at Yichen and, in a low voice, asked, "Are you sure about this plan, Yichen?"
Yichen looked at Ning Li and said, "I wasn't even considering this at first, but Ning Li suggested it. And I have a strong feeling it will work…"
Ning Li scoffed and said, "Did I force anyone into this? Just relax. I know what I'm doing. Why waste money paying off spiritualist people when there's a much easier way? You keep spending your money, and they keep draining it. I don't see any sign that what they're promising you will happen. There's only a week left before the groom price is presented and the engagement takes place. This is the most direct solution."
Yichen frowned. "No one is draining my money. My needs are being met just fine… What more do I need?"
Just then, Mochen entered the sitting room, making everyone fall silent. She looked at each of them as she approached and sat down. Yichen smiled and greeted, "Good afternoon, Ma'am."
Mochen replied, "Yes, good afternoon. Where are you coming from?"
Yichen chuckled and said, "Oh, you don't recognize me?"
Mochen kept staring at her, clearly recognizing her but choosing to pretend otherwise. After a moment, she shook her head. "No, I don't. Where are you from?"
Yichen sighed and said, "Well, my name is Yichen. If you know Barrister Xiao Zong from Beijing, he's my husband."
Mochen continued to stare at her before finally saying, "Oh, okay."
Yichen lowered her voice and said, "Ma'am, as your fellow woman, I've come to offer you help in the name of our shared bond."
Surprised, Mochen asked, "Help? What kind of help do you think I need?"
Yichen adjusted her posture and said, "Ma'am, when I say I've come to help, I don't mean financially or with anything material because you're well beyond that. But trust me, the help I'm offering you is worth more than money or any luxury. You do realize that marriage isn't something that lasts for just a day or a month, right? It's meant to be forever. Now, about that young man your son is planning to marry…"
Mochen continued to watch her silently.
"Well, I swear to you, he's a sickler. And you see how he's always alone? That's exactly how it has been since birth. His mother didn't conceive again for over thirteen years, and when she finally did, she struggled to give birth to him. Unfortunately, fate made him a sickler. To this day, his mother has refused to let his father take another wife. Everyone knows what kind of woman she is.... she controls everything in her husband's house. She's actually my co-wife's sister-in-law, so there's no reason for me to be jealous of her son. That's not the kind of person I am. But I always tell the truth no matter what.
"Right now, I'm actually the one leading the search for a wife for our nephew, Seth, in Mr. Mo Jian's family, whom I'm sure you know since they live in this city. The mother of that sickly boy is not a good woman.... she's the worst. If you visit our neighborhood and ask around, you'll hear countless stories about her. I have no reason to be jealous of her, but trust me, Ma'am, she's the reason my husband divorced me. She snatched my best friend too.... my husband's sister. And to this day, she has refused to allow a second wife into her home, despite being unable to have more children. Her own son is her exact copy.
"That boy's grandmother, Wei Po, was also an only child. Just as I wouldn't want my son, Zhan, to suffer in life, I wouldn't want any young man to either, even if he isn't my own. His medical expenses alone have cost his father a millions. Every month, it's the same problem. If his illness worsens, you might as well say he won't make it. That's why I made the effort to come here and warn you... save your son, especially since he's your firstborn…
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛