The shaman lifted his head, his gaze settling on Yichen and Xulin as he listened to their desperate pleas. Yichen had just finished explaining everything—what she wanted, how she needed it to be done. A large pile of cash lay before him, the entirety of her bank account withdrawn in the hope of securing her wish. Even now, she continued sobbing uncontrollably, lamenting that her only son had been married off to this unbearable burden.
The shaman let out a deep sigh after finishing his incantations and rituals. Finally, he spoke.
"As you requested, I will command the spirit within one of the grooms to leave him. This will bring him back to his senses, making him accept the marriage. However, as for the spirit I sent to the other boy, I don't know what happened. It left his body, and I have no idea where it is now."
He paused before continuing in a grave tone.
"But I have warned you before...their bond is strong. There is nothing we can do that will truly separate them."
Yichen broke into fresh sobs. "I don't care which man you're talking about! I never once considered Zhan part of this! I beg you... just do whatever it takes to make my son leave that boy!"
The shaman shook his head. "Even if we force them to divorce… we still can't separate them. I told you... they are soulmates. And even if we manage to bring back that boy, it won't change anything. They are already married. Unless…"
Yichen's breath hitched. "Unless what?"
"We might be able to confuse the boy, make him believe he doesn't love your son or want to stay married to him. But this will only last for a few days...just long enough for you to arrange a marriage with someone of your choosing. However, even if this works, it still won't break their connection entirely."
Yichen fell silent, her mind spinning. If this was the case, then perhaps it was pointless to keep trying to change Yibo...he would only continue to cling to Zhan. But if she could at least delay things, if she could push Zhan toward Ning Li in these few days, then maybe there was still hope. She just needed time.
Looking at the shaman, she asked, "Is there nothing you can do to make my son hate that boy?"
He shook his head. "Our power cannot reach him, just as it cannot reach your husband's mother. Didn't you say he was raised by her from childhood? Whatever she did to herself, she also did to him...a protective barrier surrounds him. The other boy has something similar, though it's not as strong as theirs."
His expression darkened. "That old woman… even spirits fear her."
The shaman reached for a large black bowl filled with a dark red liquid and gestured for Yichen to step forward.
"Come closer. Make a small cut on your palm and let a few drops of blood fall into this water."
Yichen's eyes widened. "My blood? Why?"
"Because it will guide the spirit I send. Since we don't have the boy's blood, yours will do."
He didn't explain further, and Yichen didn't care to ask. She just wanted this to be over. Stepping forward, she did as he instructed.
The moment her blood mixed with the liquid, the water changed color. A strange glow rose from the bowl, hovering mid-air. The shaman addressed it.
"Go. Find the new blood...the infant carrying these genes...and do as you've been told."
The glowing entity shot upward and vanished.
Turning to Yichen and Xulin, who watched in stunned silence, the shaman said, "It is done. As for the other boy, I will summon back the spirit that was with him. And the teenager will be confused now. You must act quickly....it will only last a few days. But no matter what, you must understand… we can never fully separate them."
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No matter how much Suyue tried to get Yibo to talk and explain what had happened, he refused to say a word. He had been crying uncontrollably since he arrived, his sobs shaking his whole body. Meiling, deeply worried, gently pulled his hands away from his face and asked, "What's going on, Yibo? Please, talk to us."
Instead of responding, Yibo collapsed onto the bed, his sobs growing louder. Suyue kept watching him, dreading the thought that had formed in her mind....what if Sen Wen had called off the wedding? Her body went cold at the possibility. She sat beside him, hands clenched in worry, unsure of what to say, as her heart ached for Yibo.
Meiling's eyes filled with tears as she lifted Yibo's face. "Please, tell us what happened, Yibo. Did something happen to Sen Wen? Say something, please."
Meanwhile, Suyue quietly stood up and left the room, tears streaming down her face.
Zihan stood in Yuting's bedroom, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, watching Yuting, who sat on the edge of the bed, weeping uncontrollably. Yuting had cried so much that she could barely form words, her mind clouded with grief. In a calm voice, Zihan said, "Please, I don't want you to react like this again. Be patient, stay calm, and let's see what happens next. Don't say anything for now."
Yuting looked up at her, shaking her head in disbelief. "You want me to stay calm? Why should I? I'm sorry, but no matter how perfect Zhan might be...no matter how much of a suitable husband he seems...his marriage to Yibo is the last thing I ever imagined. Zihan, have you forgotten who Zhan's mother is? Have you forgotten who Yichen is? How could Quentin and the others make such a decision without consulting us? Why would they do this? Why marry my son to Zhan when he could have anyone else? Yibo is still so young! Why would they do this to me?"
Tears streamed down Yuting's face as she shook her head. "If Zhan weren't Yichen's son, I'd be happy about this match. I would be thrilled, Zihan. But under these circumstances, I feel nothing but anger and despair. I can't stand the idea of my son being tied to Yichen's family. If this marriage isn't stopped tonight, Yichen will destroy my son. Please, Zihan, you must help me make your brother's see how dangerous this marriage is."
Her sobs intensified as she clutched her chest. "He's all I have in this world. If I lose him, that's it. How am I supposed to go on, Zihan? This time, I won't stay silent and let them ruin Yibo's life. This marriage will bring nothing but disaster. Zhan needs to let my son go, or I'll take Yibo and leave this house. Yibo is not his husband!"
Yuting wept bitterly, her heart burning with anguish. Zihan, too, was speechless, her own tears falling silently.
Beiting entered the room, pausing briefly before stepping forward with a composed expression. "Yuting, I never expected what you did in my brother's study. Not once did I think you'd say such things. You looked him in the face and told him you would not allow his son to marry yours, as if you had any right to stop it. Even if Yichen were the devil himself, your reaction was out of line. Quentin and Zong Ge didn't deserve that from you. And honestly, I'm shocked. You humiliated my brother when he thought he had some authority over Yibo, just like Quentin Ge does."
Yuting said nothing, letting her tears fall, her entire being consumed by distress. She wasn't even listening to Beiting anymore.
In a soft voice, Zihan interjected, "Beiting Jie, put yourself in her shoes. She spoke out of frustration. Please, try to understand. Any mother would react the same way. Everyone knows who Yichen is. Everyone knows what she's capable of. What mother would willingly accept Yichen as her son's mother-in-law? Think about it, Beiting Jie..."
Beiting said, "Don't tell me that, Zihan. Yibo won't be living with Yichen. When Zong ge broke the news to me, I was overjoyed, but then... That joy quickly turned to worry the moment I remembered who Zhan's mother was. But I am certain that, in the future, you will be the happiest about this match that Zong ge arranged today, especially you, Yuting…"
Yuting stood up, wiping her tears. "I'm sorry, Beiting, but I don't think I can accept this marriage. I know better than anyone who Zhan's mother is, and I know what will happen. I don't mean to be rude, but Yibo is all I have, and considering his condition, I won't let anything or anyone put him at risk. Who will he turn to? Ning Li or his mother-in-law? We don't even need to say it out loud.... everyone knows that girl has no respect for anyone, and even you have witnessed it firsthand. Yibo is too young and too fragile for this. Please, Beiting, talk to Zong and convince him to call off this marriage. They are not meant for each other. May fate grant them better matches."
As she spoke, tears streamed down Yuting's face, and she rushed into the bathroom. Zihan closed her eyes and sighed, feeling the pain of her dear friend and her son. Beiting stood still for a couple of minutes before turning and leaving the room.
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Uncle Hanba, who had been shaking his leg anxiously from where he was sitting in Zong's living room, finally broke the silence ten minutes after Nainai had left. "Heavens, where do we even begin now?"
Quentin had been leaning back in his chair since he sat down, completely silent. Uncle Zhuge spoke up, "There is only one solution now... this marriage must be annulled. That's the only way everyone will have peace of mind. Shuyi is trouble… It's best to just let this go."
Zong had been watching Quentin, who refused to say a word, his arms crossed. Eventually, he stood up and said, "Gege, from the moment I handed you Yibo's groom price in the church, you should have spoken up if you didn't want our sons to be married. You should not have kept quiet back then. If you had voiced your concerns, we wouldn't be in this mess now. But regardless, just as I arranged this marriage, I will put an end to it soon. Now, go and apologize to your mother. And I'm sorry for hurting you and your wife. If this marriage was arranged only for my own wishes, then I will end it now, and everyone will be at ease."
Quentin just stared at him, unable to say anything. Uncle Hanba interjected, "No, Zong, don't misunderstand him…"
But Zong didn't stop to listen. He walked out while dialing Zhan's number.
Quentin watched him leave. Uncle Hanba sighed, "Come on, Quentin. Even if you didn't agree with this marriage, you shouldn't have made it so obvious. Zong did his best to maintain the family's dignity in front of everyone gathered. He didn't even consult his son, thinking he had the authority to decide. But now, the issue is coming from your side."
Quentin let out a deep sigh, as if he wouldn't say anything, but then he shook his head and muttered, "No… not at all…"
Uncle Zhuge added, "Come on now, hasn't this bond only strengthened the family? And Shuyi was never an easy person to deal with...only the mother nature can change her behavior. But why let her words humiliate your own brother? Look at Zhan... he was married off without his consent, yet he didn't make a fuss about it. But you, Quentin… if we set aside Shuyi's behavior, what exactly is wrong with this match? You all will come to appreciate it in the future. Zhan is intelligent, composed, and knows his responsibilities. He is a man of honor, and I can personally vouch for him. Honestly, this whole dispute is embarrassing. You two are acting like strangers rather than brothers. And all because of that troublemaker, Shuyi. She's the real problem here."
Quentin shook his head slowly and said, "I don't see any fault in this arrangement at all. Zhan is like my son not nephew, and I know exactly who he is. He was raised with my values, my discipline...he is a reflection of me. But this resentment…? You all saw his mother's reaction, and now AYi is acting like she's leaving everything up to fate. For what? I knew this would happen from the very start, even back in the church. And when Seth openly expressed his interest in Yibo, look how that turned out. So what now?"
He stood up and said, "I'm coming," before following his younger brother out.
A-Ji held her chin, her mouth slightly open in disbelief, watching as Nainai wept uncontrollably over the so-called betrayal orchestrated by Zong, Quentin, and Zhuge. The elders in the sitting room murmured their concerns, shaking their heads and rubbing their hands together in distress.
With a trembling voice, Nainai said, "May justice be served for what Sen Wen did...deceiving my grandson and throwing this household into disarray. Zong, Quentin, and Zhuge have committed a grave mistake, all in the name of saving face. But they don't even realize they've brought nothing but disgrace upon ourselves. How will we face society now?"
A-Ji gasped. "Unbelievable! So now you're saying that all the expensive gifts we brought to Sen Wen's rundown house should be packed up and moved to Zhan's house instead?"
Nainai widened her eyes at her, then let out a cry of frustration. "Only God knows how to deal with you A-Ji. And honestly, I'm done with this so-called friendship. Who exactly is Zhan? What does Yibo have to do with him, for heaven's sake, A-Ji? Do you even understand the weight of this?"
A-Ji scoffed. "You just refuse to accept the truth, Shuyi. If Ge Ye had fathered Zhan, you wouldn't be questioning me like this. But because it's Zong, suddenly he's unworthy? And who is Yibo that he's too good to marry Zhan? I swear, I have never seen such hypocrisy in my life. The child is being given a decent life, a secure future, and you all want to turn it into a crime?"
Nainai clenched her fists. "I swear, only heaven will deal with you, A-Ji. And may justice be done…"
A-Ji stood up. "Oh, spare me. Let's not forget Sen Wen himself tried to humiliate you all first..."
Nainai cut her off sharply. "Who is Sen Wen to me, A-Ji?"
"His father is nothing but a common thief, one of the biggest frauds out there! Who doesn't know about what he did in China? He's been caught red-handed more times than I can count. If anything, my grandson was spared from a lifetime of disgrace when this marriage was called off. Otherwise, the moment Yibo married into that family, we'd all be branded as criminals too. Just wait...I'll go straight to their house and make sure they know exactly what I think of them."
A-Ji smirked. "And while you're at it, why don't you return all the stolen money he's been slipping you on the side?"
Nainai gasped, placing a hand on her forehead. "How dare you? He only gave me money three times, and it was just a few thousand each time. Besides, that ridiculous iron set he gave me is still sitting untouched...I never even opened it! Do you think I'm some kind of corrupt old fool with no morals?"
Just then, Yuting entered, silencing Nainai instantly. Yuting sat down with her head lowered. Nainai wiped away the last of her tears and looked at her expectantly.
In a soft voice, Yuting said, "mother, I'm taking Yibo back home with me…."
Nainai interrupted immediately. "For what?"
Yuting continued, "If the marriage is officially annulled, we'll return. But for now..."
Nainai stood abruptly. "I have never seen such a foolish woman in my life! Just because Yibo was married to Zhan, now you think you need to take him away? What exactly is wrong with Zhan? He's family too! He's my grandson just as much as Yibo is. What hardship didn't Yibo put Zhan through it? If this isn't sheer hypocrisy, then I don't know what is!"
"Is Yibo made up with gold or diamonds that he can't marry Zhan or is Zhan a thief that he's not a match for your son? What's this rubbish you're talking about. "
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛