Nainai stood up and went into her room, muttering, "I have nothing to do with this. You can leave if you want, but Yibo is going nowhere. Why should we expose ourselves when we've been fortunate enough to keep things under wraps? Unbelievable."
A-Ji turned to Yuting, watching her closely. "Come on, Yuting. Zhan is your son too. Does he have some terrible flaw that only you know about while the rest of us remain in the dark?"
Nainai peeked out from her room and scoffed. "Oh, please, A-Ji, she's just pretending to be righteous. If anyone here has a bad attitude, it's Yibo! Honestly, I feel sorry for Zhan. Pairing him up with Yibo when he already had Ning Li in mind? What a mistake! Yibo doesn't even know how to cook! Who else could possibly put up with him besides Zhan? And now that the marriage is done, you're the one trying to stir up trouble instead of letting things be? Yuting, do you really think you know better than Zong and Quentin? You're about to destroy the bond between our families over something so ridiculous."
Yuting sighed, stood up, and left the sitting room. Nainai held her face in her hands and muttered, "This is madness..."
A-Ji shook her head in disbelief. "I've never seen family ties like this in my life. The entire household is in chaos just because of this arranged marriage."
Nainai scoffed. "Honestly, if my emotions get the better of me, I might just tell Zhan to refuse to divorce Yibo out of spite. But if we go about this carefully, we'll make sure it happens. The truth is, Yibo is way out of Zhan's league. He should be with someone like Sen Wen instead. And now Yuting has the nerve to say she's taking Yibo away?"
Yuting returned to her quarters, grabbed her purse, and walked into Yibo's room. Beiting was sitting on the bed, holding Yibo tightly as he sobbed uncontrollably. His whole body trembled with distress.
Through his tears, Yibo cried out, "He's my brother, Aunty! How could I possibly marry my own brother? Please, you have to tell them! Tell Bobo that he's my brother! He's my brother, I swear!"
Beiting sat there in stunned silence. The way Yibo was behaving...his hysteria, his desperation....made him seem completely out of his mind, like someone possessed. She knew that Zong had mentioned Yibo was in such a state that the only way to calm him down was to allow him into marrying Zhan.
But now... what had changed?
Why was he acting like this?
Feeling the feverish heat radiating from his body, she lifted his face to look at him, her expression stern. "So, you think you can just ignore me when I tell you to stop crying, huh?"
Suyue sat quietly in the room, lost in thought, while Meiling wiped away tears, her entire body trembling as she stared at Yibo, who had clearly lost control of himself. Beiting slowly let go of Yibo left the room when Yuting enter the room. Yuting walked deeper into the room, looking at her son.
"Come on, let's go," she said softly.
Yibo got up, still sobbing. "Please, Mu Qin, tell Bobo to forgive me… he's my brother, I swear he is! There's no marriage between us. Please, don't let them say I married him."
Yuting took his hand and led him out, fighting to hold back her own tears.
Yibo followed her, crying heavily as they walked out into the compound, which was now filled with people. Small groups had gathered, whispering quietly amongst themselves, as the real story had yet to be publicly revealed. People had seen the coming and going of the two families, all wearing grim expressions. No one knew that the wedding between Yibo and Mr. Wen Yo Lee's son had been called off...or that Zhan was the one who had actually been married to Yibo.
Ning Li stood in one corner, holding a plate full of food, mostly meat. She stared coldly at Yong Dan, who was surrounded by a few relatives and neighbors, clearly gossiping. The group went silent as they noticed Ning Li. Yong Dan shook her head and began,
"Well, Zong saw that the guests were already gathered, so to avoid embarrassment, he went ahead and had his son marry him. That's why the entire house is on edge. Almost no one is happy about this sudden switch..."
Nioa, a friend of Zihan's, spoke up from the group. "Which son? Seth, or someone else?"
Yong Dan scoffed, "If it had been Seth, none of this would be happening. No, they married him off to Yichen's son... Zhan."
Hearing that, Ning Li quietly set her plate down. Her eyes widened with fury as she lunged forward and grabbed Yong Dan by the shoulders, shaking her violently. "Zhan?! Which Zhan are you talking about? Tell me...who exactly? Did my fiancé just marry Yibo?!"
Yong Dan turned around, startled. She hadn't even realized Ning Li was the woman meant to marry Zhan.
Still in shock, Ning Li kept shaking her. "Answer me! Which Zhan? Did they really marry my fiancé to Yibo?!"
Yong Dan was frozen, her eyes wide, unable to respond.
Ning Li let go, the realization hitting her like a blow. She recalled the panic in Yichen's face earlier, her barefoot rush outside, and Zhan's tearful exit from his father's sitting room. A scream tore from her throat, loud and piercing, startling everyone in the compound.
Just then, Yuting and Yibo walked out. The moment Ning Li saw Yibo...his face still soaked in tears, holding tightly to Yuting's hand...she collapsed to the ground in a faint. People rushed toward her, bringing water and calling for help.
But Yuting didn't stop. She held Yibo's hand tightly and continued walking straight out of the compound.
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They arrived at Wei Po's home. In the sitting room, Wei Po sat quietly with two of her relatives. Yuting greeted them politely, then led Yibo straight to the inner room. Yibo followed silently, eyes downcast.
Wei Po watched them for a moment, then stood and followed them inside. She found Yuting sitting by the edge of the bed, deep in thought, while Yibo lay down, crying softly. Wei Po sat cross-legged on the carpet and spoke gently,
"So what brings you here, Yuting? Do you no longer believe in destiny? Everything we go through in life is already written. Maybe it was never meant for Sen Wen to be Yibo's husband. It's painful, yes, but we all must accept fate. Even Jun Bin left the house earlier; he's been deeply affected by all this too. He doesn't even know where Sen Wen is...his phone's been off.
I never imagined this from Sen Wen. Whatever happened to him, only heaven knows. But this isn't normal. On the day of the wedding, to suddenly cancel everything? That's unheard of in our family.
I've also heard about the arrangement Quentin's younger brother helped with. May it turn out to be for the best. They say a person's true partner is the grave companion."
Yuting cut her off, her tone sharp. "You call this the best Mama? There's no blessing in this marriage, none. If they don't annul it, I'll take my son and leave this city. No way will my child be bonded by blood to someone like Yichen. I don't wish that on him, and it will never happen."
Wei Po stared at Yuting in disbelief before finally speaking. "You have no right over their son, Yuting. How can you say such a terrible thing? Have you forgotten all that Zong has done for you? I never thought you'd be so ungrateful and hold onto resentment like this. Didn't Zong even divorce Yichen for your sake, even though she was away for over three years? At the very least, out of respect for him, you shouldn't be saying such things. What exactly is wrong with Zhan? He's a sensible and well-mannered young man. Just last Wednesday, he stopped by this house to greet me. He never goes a full month without visiting.
"Tell me, Yuting, what exactly are you trying to do? Are you trying to break family ties? Instead of praying for your son's happiness and peace in his marriage, you're making this situation worse. Who would you rather Yibo be with...Sen Wen or Zhan? Honestly, Yuting, you act as if you aren't even supposed to be a mother figure to Zhan as well. I can't believe how unreasonable you're being. Zong tried his best to save you and your husband from embarrassment, yet here you are, acting as if you've lost all sense. Where is your decency and gratitude?"
Yuting shook her head and gave a bitter smile. "Not everyone will understand what I mean, and not everyone can see what I see. Yichen is beyond what you all think, Mama. I swear, Yichen..."
"Enough," Wei Po interrupted, standing up. "Then return their son to them. Pack your things and come live with us instead, since you seem so determined to ruin things. We have no control over him, so if you don't want this marriage, give him back and leave. Simple as that." With that, she stormed out of the room.
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Meanwhile, Zong had been calling Zhan repeatedly, but his phone was completely off. Left with no choice, Zong drove straight to his house, only for the gatekeeper to inform him that no one was home. Just as he was about to leave the neighborhood, his phone rang...it was Quentin. At first, he hesitated to answer, but eventually, he picked up.
"Where are you, Barrister?" Quentin asked.
"I'm on the road," Zong replied.
Quentin told him the name of a restaurant where they could meet, emphasizing that they needed a private discussion. Zong agreed and headed there immediately.
They arrived at nearly the same time. A waitress brought them water, and Zong drank half his glass before setting it down. Quentin watched him for a moment before saying, "First of all, I want to apologize, Barrister. Even though you misunderstood me, I still owe you an apology. Let me be clear...it's not that I wasn't happy with the match you arranged between Yibo and Zhan. In fact, it's a good thing; it strengthens our family ties.
"But my biggest concern is our mother. I know she'll never approve of this marriage. She will say things that will put all of us in a difficult position. On top of that, we don't even know if Zhan himself is okay with this. What if he doesn't want this marriage? When did he even express readiness for marriage? He has never shown any romantic interest in Yibo, only the bond of family. Unlike Seth, who openly expressed his interest in him from the start.
"Barrister, what if we've forced this marriage on Zhan? What kind of life will they have if he doesn't want it? Can you really expect them to be happy under these circumstances?"
Zong sighed and gave a small smile. "That's why I've been trying to reach him. I was hoping to call off the wedding, but I couldn't find him. I just came from his house, and he wasn't there. But don't worry, it will be taken care of."
Quentin leaned back. "It's not just about whether the wedding was annuled or not, Barrister. If Zhan accepts this marriage, then we have to figure out how to handle Ayi. And as for Yibo, I just hope he learns to accept this situation and live with it. As for Yichen and Yuting, I don't think we would ever allow their personal feelings to damage our family bond. If Zhan accepts it, and Ayi eventually lets it go, then we can only hope this turns out to be the best for everyone.
"I don't think there's anything else to discuss on this matter, Barrister. Let's leave it at that."
With that, Quentin called the waitress and ordered their meals, as the evening was fast approaching.
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Since Ning Li regained consciousness, she had been looking around at everyone surrounding her as if trying to recall what had happened. Then, all of a sudden, she sprang up and let out a sharp scream.
"My husband! My husband was married off to Yibo?! No! This can't be happening!" she wailed, clutching her chest in despair. "Yichen deceived me! She betrayed me! She ruined me! After everything, it was my own husband who married Yibo!"
At that moment, Nainai rushed into the courtyard, A-Ji following closely behind, after hearing the news that Ning Li had fainted. Nainai looked at her, shaking her head.
"We all just heard the news too, Ning Li. But honestly, it should hurt you the most, considering how much you danced at your rival wedding yesterday," she said dryly. "And yet, this morning, you were shredding cabbage like your life depended on it..."
Ning Li burst into uncontrollable sobs, shaking her head frantically like a madwoman. "I won't accept this! A co-wife? And not just any co-wife...Yibo?! No! Zhan belongs to me and me alone! Yichen thinks she can outsmart me? She has no idea who she's dealing with! I won't expose her just yet, but she will soon learn what kind of family I belong into. She will regret this marriage, mark my words! If I don't teach Yichen a lesson, then I wasn't born of my mother!"
She suddenly took off running toward the gate like a lunatic, wailing and calling for her mother. Nainai and the others in the courtyard stared after her in shock. Then, Nainai scoffed, shaking her head.
"Let me make one thing clear....no one can break this marriage while I'm alive," she declared. "This marriage is final, sealed and done! Now, bring back the wedding gifts that were sent to the thieves' den! Remove Ning Li's belongings from that house, spray it down, and put my grandson's husband things inside! Who else but Zhan is worthy of Yibo? People are just blind to the obvious!
"Yibo is ambitious, always chasing after material things, which is why he fell for those deceitful thieves in the first place. They fooled him and ran! I had always thought about marrying off my two grandchildren, but I just didn't have the vision to speak up back then. But now? Now that it's happened, there's no turning back. Not even Zhan himself can break this marriage. If he tries, I swear I will curse him for the rest of his life!"
With that, she stormed off toward her quarters. "Call Zong and Quentin! I've changed my mind about a few things. This match is a blessing!"
By 6 PM, Yichen finally returned home, looking utterly exhausted. She hadn't eaten all day, aside from a cup of tea that morning. By then, most of the guests had left, leaving only close relatives. As soon as she entered her room, she grabbed her phone, intending to call Zhan, only to see ten missed calls from Ning Li's mother. Her heart dropped, and she stared at the screen in dread.
She sat at the edge of her bed, deep in thought, when Xinyi walked in.
"Mom, Aunt Ning Li's sister was here three times today," Xinyi informed her.
Yichen swallowed the lump in her throat and furrowed her brows. "So? What do they want from me?"
"I don't know," Xinyi replied.
"Then leave. I need to make a call," Yichen said firmly.
Once Xinyi left, Yichen dialed Zhan's number, but his phone was off. Panic surged through her, and she stood abruptly.
"What is Zhan trying to do by turning off his phone?" she muttered before storming out of the house, determined to find him.
When she arrived at the main courtyard, she found Nainai standing near Yuting's quarters, pacing back and forth. A few family members, including Zihan, Beiting, and Yong Dan, were nearby, watching her.
Clearly agitated, Nainai declared, "If she doesn't fix her attitude, I swear she won't be allowed back into this house. She can stay with her family permanently! And someone better take me to bring back my grandson right this instant! He wasn't fathered by a stranger! If she wants to stay at her parents' house forever, so be it, but she will not step foot in my son's home again! Some women are just filled with nothing but poison!
"Quentin married a problem! Yuting is nothing but trouble! Is it my grandson she doesn't want, or does she simply hate anything related to Quentin? Because if she hates Zhan, then that means she hates Quentin too, since they're nephew and uncle! I swear, I don't know why fate always ties my son's to these troublesome women!"
She grabbed her phone, shouting, "Take me to her family's house! I'll bring my grandson back right now!"
Just then, Quentin and Zong arrived at the house, pausing at the entrance, silently watching their mother.
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It was almost 10:30pm when Yichen returned home from Zhan's house, looking completely disheveled. She had left at six in the evening, waiting in his compound, hoping he would return. But even after hours of waiting, there was no sign of him. In the end, she left in distress, tears streaming down her face, while Sun Yue Ning Li's mother kept calling her incessantly. Eventually, she switched off her phone entirely and headed straight for Nainai's apartment, wiping the sweat off her face.
Anyone who saw her could tell she was deeply troubled. She entered the sitting room and found Nainai sitting with Yong Dan, AJi, and Zihan.
Yichen slumped onto a chair, trying to hide her tears. She greeted them all, and they responded... except for Nainai, who was eating. Lowering her voice, as if forcing the words out, she said, "mother, I just came from Zhan's house. I've been there since six, but he never came back. I don't know why. I'm afraid this whole arrangement might lead to serious trouble between our families, especially since Yuting was openly against it from the start. Even Yibo himself never wanted this marriage. And Zhan... I know he's going through turmoil, but earlier today, I heard you yourself say the marriage should be called off. Mother, Zhan is still missing... right now, I just came from his house, and there's no sign of him..."
Her voice trembled as she finished, looking at Nainai.
Nainai set her food aside and turned to AJi. "Did you hear this mess? Yichen, are you accusing me of plotting against this marriage? I'm alive, not dead, so why would I say such a thing? The only thing I said earlier in Zong's sitting room was that I wasn't consulted, and I made my displeasure clear. But beyond that, I know nothing. I said nothing.
"Besides, Sen Wen and Yibo were never a good match to begin with. Sen Wen's father is the wealthy one, not him. And to be honest, Zhan might even be richer than Sen Wen himself. That boy only flaunted his father's money and managed to deceive my grandson. And now, all at once, the truth has come out.
"As for this marriage? The only thing that will break it is death itself. But let me be clear, Yichen: Zhan must bring gifts and gold equal to what Sen Wen's family presented to us... if not more. Otherwise, I'll personally demand the marriage be dissolved. My grandson is not some charity case. And he better bring an even bigger dowry. You and Yuting will never understand the reality of this. I've never seen people as stupid as you two. Yuting ran off with her son like a madwoman. If it weren't for Zong and the others stopping me, I would have brought my grandson back this very night."
Yichen's heart pounded as she realized Nainai had completely changed her stance from earlier that morning when she had insisted on a divorce. Now, she was saying the opposite. Yichen had pinned all her hopes on Nainai, but now that hope had shattered. She stood up abruptly and rushed out of the sitting room.
She hadn't gone far when she collapsed onto the ground, breaking into uncontrollable sobs. "I'm doomed! I've ruined my life! And now my son is the one suffering for it, right before my eyes? No! I will end this marriage, no matter what it takes! Zhan will never share blood with Yuting's family! If this marriage lasts, I would rather die! I swear, he will divorce him...unless I'm not the one who gave birth to him!
"So he actually wanted this marriage all along? Is that why he ran away without a word?" She burst into another fit of weeping, her heart aching. Not even her father's death had pained her the way this marriage did. If only she could turn back time, she would have let Sen Wen marry Yibo. At least then, she wouldn't have to witness their life together firsthand. She would have only seen Yibo occasionally when he visited home. But now, her own son was tied to Yibo, and she had to watch it unfold before her very eyes.
Wiping her tears furiously, she got up and stormed back to her apartment. "I swear, he will divorce him! Unless I didn't give birth to him myself! There is no marriage between them! My son is above such disgrace! How can he start his married life with someone who will only drag him down?"
That day, Yichen suffered both day and night, tormented by one thought: What would happen in the morning? She knew Ning Li's mother and her entire family would show up at her doorstep, bringing their children along. She was sure Ning Li had already told them everything... that she had tried everything in her power to prevent Yibo and Sen Wen's marriage.
Yichen sat up suddenly, clutching her head, whispering a desperate prayer that somehow, someway, she would find a way out of this nightmare.
Meanwhile, over in Yuting's part, sleep had eluded her as well. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt this restless. She had prayed for years that such a day would never come...ever since she noticed Zhan and Yibo growing unnaturally close. She had tried to keep Yibo in check, but all of a sudden, without warning, the very thing she feared had happened.
If it had been Seth who married Yibo, she wouldn't have minded. In fact, she would have been the happiest of them all. But Zhan? Zhan was far above him.
Yibo was wrapped in his duvet, but he wasn't asleep either....just tossing and turning restlessly. He couldn't even cry anymore, overwhelmed by an unbearable fever and confusion. His joints ached terribly, his head throbbed, and his back was in pain.
Noticing his constant movement, Yuting approached him. She pulled back the duvet and placed a hand on his forehead, only to feel the alarming heat radiating from his body. Without saying a word, she watched him struggle to sit up against the headboard before he finally managed to whisper, "Mu Qin, I don't feel well."
Yuting remained silent, observing him with concern before heading to the kitchen. She quickly prepared some tea, knowing that he hadn't eaten properly the night before. Returning to his bedside, she handed him the cup. "Drink this while I get you some painkillers."
Yibo accepted the cup with trembling hands. As Yuting left for Wei Po's room, she opened the cabinet where medicines were kept and grabbed a pain reliever along with a heating ointment. When she returned, she urged Yibo to drink the tea, but he refused, complaining of nausea. Seeing no other option, she gave him the painkiller and gently applied the ointment to his aching body before tucking him in.
The next morning, Zong was still trying to reach Zhan, whose phone remained switched off. A deep sense of unease settled over him as he began to consider the possibility that something might have happened to his son. Just then, Yuting entered the room and knelt before him, her voice trembling as she spoke.
"I came to ask a favor, not because I have any right to, but because I have no other choice. I know I've always been at fault, and I accept that. But please, for the sake of everything, listen to me and grant me this one request."
Zong looked at her and said, "I'm listening."
Lowering her head, she pleaded softly, "Please call off this marriage. Yibo doesn't want it, and neither does Zhan. And now, after all this, Zhan is missing. We don't even know where he is. Please, I beg you, do the right thing before it's too late..."
Zong shook his head. "I have no say in this anymore, Yichen. It's up to mother. Whatever she decides is final."
Tears streamed down Yichen's face. "This is wrong! Zhan doesn't want this marriage! He's been missing since yesterday, and his phone is still off...we have no idea where he is!"
Zong stood up. "He'll be fine, don't worry."
Yichen, still sobbing, left the room, desperately trying to think of a way out of this situation. To her, letting Zhan marry Yibo was a fate worse than losing everything she held dear.
By nine o'clock, Zong and Quentin arrived at Wei Po's house. Her housekeeper had already informed her of their arrival, and she stepped out of her room to greet them warmly.
"Welcome! How was the gathering and all the celebrations?" she asked cheerfully.
They both responded with a polite acknowledgment, and she nodded. "That's good. May it all bring blessings. May whatever happened be for the best for all of us."
Zong sighed. "Amen. We came to apologize for making such a major decision without informing you first. It was all very sudden… Please forgive us."
Wei Po waved a hand dismissively. "No need to apologize, Zong. We're all family. As for the marriage, I truly hope it turns out to be a blessing. You did what you believed was right...don't let your wives' concerns distract you. This was the best choice, and they'll come to see that in time. Later today, I'll personally take Yibo back home."
Zong nodded. "Thank you. What about Yuting?"
"She stepped out to buy medicine for him. He was running a fever last night, but he's doing much better now...he's even sleeping."
Zong sighed in relief. "That's good to hear. We'll take our leave now. Mother also sends her regards."
Wei Po smiled. "Send my regards to her as well. May blessings be upon you all."
They both thanked her before heading to the door. Just as they reached the gate, they ran into Yuting returning from the pharmacy. She glanced at them briefly before respectfully greeting Zong.
"How is Yibo feeling now?" Zong asked.
"Much better, thankfully," Yuting replied.
Quentin, who had been quietly observing her, simply nodded. Zong responded with a reassuring smile. "Good. May he recover quickly."
"Amen," she murmured before stepping through the gate and disappearing inside.
As they got into the car and drove away, Zong sighed. "In time, they will all come around. They'll realize this marriage was the best thing for them."
Quentin remained silent for a while before finally voicing his thoughts. "How do we reach Zhan? I'm worried about him, Barrister."
Zong had no answer. He, too, had no idea where to find his son or how to get his side of the story.
Meanwhile, two cars arrived at their house, carrying Ning Li's mother, three of her sisters, two relatives, and two of her closest friends. Ning Li herself sat inside, looking weak and drained. Her eyes were swollen from hours of crying.
Every time she thought about how Zhan had been married off to Yibo, she let out a wail like a madwoman, refusing to calm down. She had screamed and sobbed so much the night before that she had exhausted herself completely.
When they reached the house, the security guard assumed they were guests for the wedding and opened the gate for them. Ning Li's mother was the first to step out, followed by her daughters. Once inside, they stood in the courtyard and demanded to see Yichen.
Mengxi, who was inside, went to call her mother Yichen. "Ning Li's family is here. They're asking for you."
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛