Sen Wen and Seth entered the sitting room where Zong and Quentin were seated. Sen Wen lowered his gaze, removed his glasses, and sat on the rug, greeting them softly. They responded in unison, their eyes fixed on him. Seth sat down as well, watching Sen Wen, who refused to lift his head.
Calmly, Zong asked, "I hope all is well, Sen Wen?"
Sen Wen remained silent, his head still lowered. Both Quentin and Zong continued to watch him, as did Seth. After a moment, Sen Wen finally looked up, though he avoided making eye contact with any of them. In a quiet voice, he said, "I'm sorry for saying this so late, but please, I ask for your understanding. The wedding cannot take place today for certain reasons…"
Quentin and Zong stared at him in shock, while Seth widened his eyes in disbelief. Sen Wen ran a hand through his hair and, in an even lower voice, added, "I don't think I'm ready for marriage right now. I know it's last-minute, but this is the truth. Please, forgive me…"
Seth shot him a sharp look, then stood up in fury. "How dare you say this at this time? Who do you think you're playing with?"
Zong, whose patience was already wearing thin, asked in a dangerously calm voice, "What exactly are you trying to tell us, Sen Wen? What do you mean?"
Sen Wen remained silent for a long moment before finally saying, "I think it's best to postpone the wedding until another time. Please forgive me…"
Quentin suddenly stood up, his voice thunderous. "You are incredibly stupid!"
Zong quickly rose to his feet and placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, knowing how temperamental he could be. Speaking gently, he said, "Calm down, Gege. Just stay calm."
Sen Wen stood as well, keeping his head down. "I'm sorry…" he murmured before turning and walking out of the room.
Seth stared after him in utter shock. "This can't be happening…" Zong muttered, unable to stand still. Quentin sank back into his seat, trying to compose himself. The room fell into a heavy silence for nearly five minutes, each man lost in his own thoughts.
Eventually, Zong lifted his head and looked at Quentin, a wave of sympathy washing over him. How could something like this happen to his only child? In a soft voice, Zong said, "Look, Quentin ge, there's no need to worry. This is fate, and we must accept it. I'll return the groom price and all the wedding gifts immediately. Also, please don't say anything to anyone about this yet."
Quentin remained silent, leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed. Seth, feeling deeply unsettled, couldn't even bring himself to look at his uncles. Zong began pacing the room as if searching for a solution, his face lined with concern.
Finally, Quentin exhaled slowly and said, "Give me everything related to the wedding. I'll return them myself, Barrister."
Knowing his brother's temperament, Zong immediately responded, "I'll take care of it personally, Gege. There's no need for you to go."
Despite Quentin's insistence, Zong refused to hand over the groom price, which only added to Quentin's frustration. He clenched his fists, struggling to process what had just happened to his son.
Sitting down, Zong picked up his phone and dialed the number of Mr. Wen Yo Lee. The call nearly went to voicemail before it was answered. After exchanging greetings, Zong paused briefly before calmly asking, "Can you explain why you've done this to us?"
Mr. Wen Yo Lee, listening intently, responded with confusion. "I don't understand, Barrister. What exactly has happened? Did something go wrong?"
Zong was taken aback by his response. Without hesitation, he explained what had just transpired with Sen Wen.
Raising his voice in frustration, Mr. Wen Yo Lee exclaimed, "That boy is out of his mind! So that's what he told you? Well, let me make it clear....whether he likes it or not, this wedding is happening! My reputation is on the line, and I won't have it tarnished. The wedding will proceed as planned, no matter what. I'll see you there."
Without waiting for a response, he ended the call.
Zong turned to Quentin, who had been listening on speaker. Quentin shook his head and let out a bitter chuckle before saying, "I will never give my son's hand in marriage to that man's son. Since Sen Wen himself has made it clear that he doesn't want this, then it's over. I wasn't desperate to have Yibo marry into their family. Don't forget...he is all I have. If anyone must suffer, let it be me, but I won't let them hurt my son. We're returning everything immediately. May the univers guide everyone to their rightful partner. Yibo deserves better."
Quentin stood up and walked toward the door.
Zong, deeply affected by everything, called out, "Gege."
Quentin stopped but didn't turn around.
In a firm voice, Zong said, "Don't tell anyone about this. Not even your friends. Do you understand?"
Quentin didn't say a word and simply left the sitting room. Zong leaned back, looking deeply saddened. Seth was at a complete loss for words, utterly shocked. After a moment, Zong looked at him and said, "Go and get ready, Seth. It's almost time for your marriage. And don't say anything to anyone yet."
Seth stood up, his body heavy with hesitation, and left the sitting room while Zong watched him go.
The house was lively with wedding festivities, and no one suspected anything was wrong. Yibo, exhausted from a sleepless night, had finally fallen into a restless slumber in his bedroom. His entire body twisted and turned in discomfort, showing just how uneasy he was. The people in the room with him noticed this but chose not to wake him, sensing his need for rest.
Meanwhile, Zong took the groom price that Mr. Wen Yo Lee had sent and personally went to return it. He was fully convinced by his brother's decision that the wedding should be called off. Since Sen Wen himself had expressed his reluctance, it was better to let the matter go than to force a union that could cause Yibo future misery. That was the last thing Zong wanted for his brother's only child.
Sen Wen's father did not take the returned money well. He refused to accept it at first, but Zong patiently explained the situation in a way that made it clear why they had to take this step...to protect Yibo. No amount of calls from Mr. Wen Yo Lee to Sen Wen could change anything, as Sen Wen refused to answer his phone.
Zong gave a small, knowing smile and said, "You see, this was never meant to be. It's better this way."
Sen Wen's father remained silent, but frustration was evident on his face. Zong finally bid him farewell, informing him that the rest of the wedding gifts would be returned by the following day. Mr. Wen Yo Lee said nothing as Zong left, but the moment the door closed behind him, he grabbed his phone and dialed his wife.
The moment she answered, his tone was strict. "Meet me in the sitting room immediately. And wherever Sen Wen is, I want him here now. He's not spending the night in this house, and he is returning everything of mine in his possession today. I have nothing more to do with him."
Without waiting for a response, he hung up the phone.
At twelve-forty-five, Zong and his group....including his friends, Uncle Zeng Niu, and Uncle Zhuge...left for Seth's wedding. Upon arrival, he parked and called Quentin to check on his whereabouts. Quentin assured him he was on his way.
The wedding proceeded as planned, and Seth and Che'er were officially married. Many guests witnessed the joyous occasion. However, when it was time for the second wedding, the grooms were nowhere to be found. The growing murmurs in the crowd suggested that something was amiss long before Zong and the others had the chance to make an announcement.
Zong glanced at Quentin, who stood beside him, and in a quiet voice said, "Quentin ge, I will arrange a marriage for Yibo. A marriage that I am certain everyone will be proud of. Maybe not immediately, but in my lifetime, I will never allow you to be humiliated in front of the world. And since I have authority over Yibo, I will ensure that this marriage happens to restore honor, whether anyone else knows about the situation or not."
Quentin simply stared at him, having refrained from speaking for quite some time. Zong continued, "Go and bring Yibo to me. I'll gather Uncle Zeng Niu and the others."
As he spoke, he pulled out a bundle of cash from his pocket and handed it to Quentin. "This is Yibo's groom price."
Zong then walked away toward Zeng Niu and his friends. Quentin, however, did not welcome the idea at all. He was completely against forcing Yibo into a marriage and didn't want to add another burden on top of the heartbreak his son was already enduring. Worse, he had no idea whom Zong intended to marry Yibo to. If he spoke up, Zong might see it as a challenge to his authority over Yibo.
Conflicted, confused, and unwilling, Quentin nonetheless left to do as Zong had instructed.
▫️🔸🔹▪️
Quentin never expected the name he heard Zong call as the groom while preparing the marriage papers. He stared at Zong, unable to blink, and even Seth was more than shocked...he couldn't stop looking at his uncles. He finally closed his eyes and exhaled, his heart pounding.
Zong gave Quentin a calm smile, noticing his intense gaze, but instead of returning it, Quentin looked away. Zong then said, "Did you call Yibo to come here?"
Quentin shook his head. "He's not answering his phone. I called his mother and asked her to check on him, and she said she'd let him know."
In the end, Seth stepped out to avoid facing his friends, as the shock was becoming too much for him.
Back to the house
Ever since Mian Mian answered a call in Yibo's room, her expression had completely changed. She had been standing in place for over two minutes, the phone still in her hand.
Meiling, who had just finished searching for Yibo...since they hadn't realized he wasn't home until Yuting came looking for him...asked, "Is everything okay, Mian Mian?"
Mian Mian didn't look at Meiling, trying to hide the tears welling in her eyes.
Suyue, who had been putting on earrings, also noticed and asked, "I hope everything is alright?"
Without saying a word, Mian Mian rushed out of the room and immediately broke down crying. The others stared at her in confusion. Meiling felt a terrible sense of dread and quickly got up to follow her, with Suyue close behind.
Earlier That Morning
Yibo glanced at the clock...it was a little past seven in the morning. He let out a slow breath, his gaze shifting to the envelope Zhan had given him the night before. He had wanted to open it since yesterday, but every time he tried, something distracted him. However, now, for some reason, he felt a strange sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from his chest. It was as if he had been bound for a long time, and someone had finally set him free.
Grabbing his phone, he checked for messages from Sen Wen...anything at all....but found nothing except a text from Zhan.
He sat on the edge of the bed, wiping away the tears that had started falling, then opened the message and began to read:
"Congratulations on your wedding, my little brother. Yibo, know that I will always love you, but I have to let you go because your heart belongs to someone else. Inside that envelope, you'll find a check and signed divorce papers.
I'm resigning from my job and moving back to the UK or the US...I can't stay here and watch you with another man. For now, I'll be leaving Beijing today, and after that, I'll leave the country.
I'm sorry, but I won't be attending your wedding."
Your ever-youthful Gege.
Yibo didn't even realize when he shot to his feet, his heart pounding. He grabbed the envelope from his dresser and tore it open...inside was a blank check and the divorce papers, signed by Zhan.
Despite the overwhelming panic flooding his system, he acted on impulse. His hands trembled as he hurriedly picked up his phone, grabbed his ATM card and passport together with the envelope, then went to Quentin's study and took any valuable asset papers he could find. Carefully avoiding anyone's notice, he slipped out of the house.
🔹▪️🔸▫️
At first, Yibo stopped by a high-end jewelry mall to buy wedding rings... designer, expensive ones. Then, without wasting any time, he drove straight to Zhan's house.
The moment he arrived at the gate, the security guard informed him that Zhan had left about 45 minutes ago. According to the guard, Zhan had mentioned going to the hospital, but Ning Li had not returned home yet. The guard also added that Zhan would be traveling and wouldn't be back for a while.
Yibo didn't wait to hear anything else. He immediately turned around and sped toward the hospital where Zhan worked.
There, one of Zhan's doctor friends told him that Zhan had left just 15 minutes ago. He was headed to the airport...but he hadn't mentioned his destination.
Yibo's heart pounded in panic as he rushed out.
At the Airport
Zhan was nearly late for his flight. He had to keep apologizing to the taxi driver, urging him to speed up. The moment he arrived, the boarding call had already started. He rushed straight to the check-in counter, completed the process, and stretched his long legs toward the departure lounge.
Exactly 135 seconds after Zhan passed through the checkpoint, Yibo arrived at the airport.
At first, Yibo frantically scanned the area, but the terminal was packed with people...passengers coming and going, staff moving in different directions. His biggest problem? He had no idea which city Zhan was flying to.
There were at least eight flights departing at that moment, all heading to different destinations.
Yibo made a split-second decision. His eyes landed on the microphone used for announcements. Without hesitation, he rushed toward it, snatched it with all his strength, and yelled,
"Dr. Xiao Zhan! Zhan-ge! Zhan-Gege! Gege, where are you?!"
Then, his voice broke into sobs.
Before he could say another word, strong hands grabbed him from behind, and someone yanked the microphone away.
A huge officer effortlessly lifted Yibo off the ground, dragging him to the side. Passengers and staff had stopped what they were doing, staring at the commotion.
One of the security officers told Yibo to calm down and step aside. But seeing that he was about to run back, the officer gave him a firm warning.
"If you cause another disturbance, we'll have to call the police and arrest you."
Despite the warning, four security guards remained stationed nearby, keeping a close watch on him.
At that point, Yibo completely broke down. He collapsed onto his knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Zhan-ge..." he choked out between cries.
Sometimes, he called out, "Gege!"
His whole body trembled. His heart pounded painfully in his chest. His breathing became erratic...a dangerous sign. His asthma was acting up.
He clutched his chest, gasping for air as tears, mucus, and even saliva smeared across his face.
Then...
"Yibo."
The familiar voice cut through his panic like a lifeline.
As if struck by lightning, Yibo's head snapped up. He blinked rapidly, searching for the source.
And there, right in front of him....
Zhan stood with his backpack and hand luggage, his face mask pulled down just enough to reveal his stunned expression as he stared at Yibo in disbelief.
Beyond Zhan's face, the next thing Yibo's eyes landed on was the passport and flight ticket in Zhan's hand.
And that was it.
Yibo didn't wait a second longer. He lunged forward, snatching the passport and ticket from Zhan's grasp. Without hesitation, he tore the ticket into four pieces and let them fall to the floor. Then, without warning, he delivered two solid slaps....one to each of Zhan's cheeks.
Before Zhan could react, Yibo started pounding on his chest, his entire body shaking with sobs.
"How dare you, Xiao Zhan?! How dare you try to leave me?! Who gave you the right to sign the divorce papers?! Who told you I want to live without you?!
"No, Gege! I can't live without you! I..." His voice cracked as he gasped for air. "I only love you! I don't want to marry Sen Wen anymore! I don't even know why I wanted to in the first place!"
Yibo was crying so hard, his tears falling freely as he clung to Zhan....who stood frozen, completely in shock.
"I'm so... so sorry, G-Gege..." Yibo's voice trembled as he choked on his sobs. "Promise me you will never leave me alone..."
His breath hitched painfully. His chest tightened, his airway constricting. A sharp, familiar pain spread through his lungs.
His asthma was worsening.
Gasping, he clutched his chest and collapsed to his knees.
Panic surged through Zhan. Without wasting a second, he dropped to Yibo's side, grabbing him to lift him up. Once he managed to pull Yibo to his feet, he quickly searched his backpack, his fingers trembling.
He found the inhaler.
Immediately, he brought it to Yibo's lips, pressing the canister.
But Yibo, struggling to breathe, weakly swatted Zhan's hand away, shaking his head.
"It's better if I die, Gege..." His voice was barely a whisper between his gasps. "If you're leaving me, then it's better if my asthma kills me first."
His body trembled violently as he sucked in desperate, shallow breaths.
Still gasping for air, he fumbled with a small box in his pocket. His shaking hands barely managed to pry it open...
And there they were.
The couple's rings.
Two beautiful, shining bands meant for them.
At that moment, Zhan no longer cared about the dozens of people watching them.
He grabbed Yibo's face with both hands, his own heart racing. "Please, Yibo...this isn't the time for this! Take the inhaler first! Just breathe, and everything will be fine!"
But Yibo pushed him away again, staggering backward, still clutching his chest.
"No, Gege!" he rasped. "Not until you marry me... and promise you will never leave me alone!"
"I know I... hu...rt you so badly, Ge...ge. Please... forgive me... I love you, Zhan-ge... plea...se marry... me... Ge...ge... I...i... can't... bre...athe..."
Another tear rolled down his already tear-streaked face. He choked, gasping for air, before his body gave out. He collapsed onto the floor, curled up, unmoving. He wasn't breathing anymore.
Zhan stood frozen, just three inches away, staring in shock at Yibo's unconscious body.
The crowd around them erupted into chaos.
"Call an ambulance!"
"Is there a doctor here?!"
"Bring oxygen!"
"Somebody press his chest and give him CPR!"
"Oh my God, is he dead?!"
"Poor boy, he loves his brother so much..."
"Why didn't his brother accept his proposal?"
The noise and frantic shouting snapped Zhan out of his daze.
Without hesitation, he dropped his backpack and rushed to Yibo's side.
He didn't waste a second.
Positioning his hands firmly over Yibo's chest, he started pressing down...steady, controlled compressions. He didn't care about Yibo's tear-streaked, mess-covered face. He only cared about bringing him back.
Bending down, he parted Yibo's lips and sealed their mouths together, breathing air into his lungs.
Zhan's heart pounded so hard it felt like it would tear through his ribcage. His entire body shook violently, his breath coming out in panicked gasps. Tears blurred his vision as he murmured between sobs....
"No... No... Please, Yibo, don't do this to me... Please, breathe..."
"I will do everything you want me to do... Haven't I always done what makes you happy?"
"I'll keep doing it..."
"I will marry you and never leave you alone... Just breathe, huh? Please..."
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛