Wang's POV:
I had just spent two days soaking in the beauty of Jeju Island when I got the call. My father's voice was tight, urgent, something was wrong. Mother was hospitalized, and I needed to come back immediately. It didn't sit right with me, but I dropped everything and rushed home, only to find out it was all a setup.
Mother had orchestrated a surprise proposal. To her best friend's daughter—someone I had met only twice in passing. How she managed to pull this off, I still don't know. My father, usually a pillar of reason, seemed completely on board. But my brother Xichen? He wasn't having it. He was furious, his face a mix of disbelief and anger. But Mother, with her usual flair, gave him a million reasons why this was the best decision for all of us.
I stood there, caught in the middle of a situation that wasn't my choice, trying to process everything. How had it come to this?
Mother, I said, my voice sharp with frustration, but I had already made up my mind. I would give her a condition. "I'll only accept this if you allow me to spend six months in Jeju Island."
She didn't hesitate. "Agreed," she beamed, and just like that, I went along with the proposal. It was extravagant, almost over the top. Some people even mistook it for an actual wedding. But I didn't care. I left my mother and father to handle the press while I took the opportunity to step away. The next day, my supposed wife left for her final exams, and I made my way back to Jeju, relieved to return to a semblance of peace.
I was settling in, enjoying the quiet, when I decided to check the CCTV footage. And there he was. He looked terrified, standing inside the gate, his eyes wide and scared from the person on the other side. My heart clenched. Without thinking, I felt an overwhelming urge to protect him. Something wasn't right, and I couldn't just stand by.
I couldn't shake the image of his scared face from my mind, so I did what I always do when I want answers: I turned to the FBI database. It wasn't a routine I made often, but I had the access, and this time, my curiosity got the best of me. I slipped in a quick search. It didn't take long before I found him—Yu Bin. His father owned a private high school, so it wasn't exactly hard to track him down.
I decided to go to their house. When I showed up, Yu Bin looked completely surprised, like he never expected anyone to show up at his doorstep, least of all me. But when I played the footage from the CCTV on my phone, his expression shifted. He knew what I was talking about. Hesitant but willing, he agreed to follow me, and that's when he finally started explaining everything. His fear made sense then. It wasn't just some random encounter. His life was in danger.
I felt a sharp wave of anger rise within me, but I pushed it down. I promised Yu Bin I would protect him. He wasn't alone in this anymore. As I said the words, Yu Bin promised me he would let me know when his sister was around, and I was pleased. I knew one thing I wasn't going to let anyone hurt him.
We searched high and low for Zhan, but it was as if he had vanished into thin air. No one seemed to have seen him. We made our way to their house, only to find it sold. The place was empty, and it hit me hard. Something wasn't right.
I made a few inquiries, pushed for more details, and it didn't take long before the truth came out. His mother had sold the house to a certain dealer. In exchange? Drugs. The realization stung—I knew then that they were caught in something deeper than I could have imagined. I traced the dealer's identity, but I couldn't afford to waste time on that now. Zhan's safety was what mattered most.
I had the resources to dig deeper. I hacked into every corner of the CCTV network, hoping for a break. And then, I saw it. Zhan, with Dre. It wasn't much, but it was enough. I knew where he'd be. The pieces were finally coming together, and I wasn't going to waste another second. Zhan was out there, and I was going to find him.
I quickly got dressed and headed to the party. It was a private affair, and I had been invited, though honestly, I had no intention of going. But for him—Zhan—I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and showed up.
When I walked in, I spotted him right away. And when he saw me, it was like he recognized me instantly, like he'd seen me before, though I knew it couldn't be possible. I couldn't resist taking the opportunity to tease him a little, to throw him off balance. It wasn't meant to be serious, but I think it gave him the wrong impression of me. I saw the uncertainty in his eyes, and I realized that my approach might have pushed him further away rather than drawing him closer.
Determined to make things right, I decided to keep my distance, at least for now. Instead, I started following him—watching, waiting for the right moment to step in and let him know I wasn't a threat. I had to be patient. He was still scared, and I couldn't rush it.
As time passed, I kept my distance but also stayed close, watching carefully. The more I observed, the more I learned about Zhan's situation. I found out that he'd been sleeping with Dre for money—something that didn't sit well with me, but I wasn't in a position to judge. Life had thrown him into a mess, and I understood it wasn't as simple as just walking away.
Despite that, I never stopped keeping an eye on him, always watching from the shadows. I knew that I had to be strategic. So when the opportunity presented itself, it was at the convenience store. I didn't hesitate. I followed him home, making sure no one was aware of my presence, and I entered his place properly, just as I'd planned.
But I also knew that what was happening was bigger than it seemed. After all, I was the one who had directed Ji Li to that very house, and I had set up that apartment for him. It wasn't just a random decision—it was all connected. I wasn't just trying to save Zhan. I trying to make sure the pieces fell in the right place. But I was careful, calculating, knowing every move could change everything.
Grandma and Mia were busy in the kitchen, cooking up dinner while I sat with Ji Li, playing games. I let him win every time, of course, just to see that smile on his face. There was something comforting about those moments, something I hadn't experienced in a long time.
When dinner was ready, we all gathered around the table, and the food looked and smelled amazing. I couldn't help but appreciate how delicious it was. I hadn't had a home-cooked meal like this in ages. Honestly, I couldn't even remember the last time my mother cooked. It made me realize how rare these moments were, how much I missed having the kind of family time I used to take for granted.
"This is good," I moaned, savoring every bite.
"She's the best cook," Ji Li beamed, clearly proud of Grandma.
Grandma smiled, happy with the compliment, but then she turned to me, her eyes warm. "Wang, why don't you tell us about yourself?"
I paused, caught off guard for a second. Ji Li and I both spoke at the same time. "I..."
"You know what? Since we have a new Wang, call me Ji Li," he cut in, a playful grin on his face.
"Ji Li is good," Mia mused with a chuckle.
I gave a slight nod, appreciating the change in the air. "So, Wang, tell us about yourself," Grandma asked again, her gaze curious.
I kept it simple. "I come from a family of four, my brothher and I. My parents were strict, always pushing us to be perfect. It wasn't easy, but we made it work. My private life is... well, it's very boring."
I didn't go into detail. Some things were better left unsaid for now.
"Marriage, relationship?" Mia asked with a teasing smile.
"Oh, I'm single," I said, instantly regretting it. I wasn't sure why I said it out loud, but the words were already out.
"Good," Mia said, giggling, clearly amused by my discomfort.
"What's good about that?" Ji Li asked, looking between the two of us. "He's a graduate, and he has a good job. From the way he looks, he should start looking to settle down and start his own family."
Grandma nodded, a knowing smile on her face. "he's right. You should look into it."
I didn't want to get into it further, so I just nodded, hoping to end the conversation. "I'll look into it," I said, not wanting to prolong the matter.
Mia cleared the plates, and I leaned back, my mind still occupied with what Grandma had said. I had been thinking about speaking to her alone, but the timing had to be right. There were things I needed to say, things I needed her to understand. It wasn't going to be easy, but I had to take that step.
After dinner, while the rest of the family began tidying up and sharing quiet laughs, I caught Grandma's eye from across the room. The warmth in her gaze urged me to step away from the table for a moment. I excused myself quietly and found her sitting by the window, the soft glow of the evening light framing her gentle face.
"Grandma," I began hesitantly as I sat down beside her, "can I ask you something?"
She smiled kindly, patting my hand. "Of course, dear. What's on your mind?"
"Can we go outside?" I asked, my voice low, noticing the couch outside when Zhan and I had entered earlier. I didn't know if Ji Li and Mia were aware of Zhan's private life, but one thing was for sure—I wasn't about to tell them.
"Okay," Grandma said with a nod, following me as we stepped outside.
The couch was old but incredibly comfortable, a deep brown fabric that had faded from years of use, yet the cushions still had that perfect worn-in softness. The sun casting a soft glow across the garden. We sank into it together, the quiet surrounding us adding to the comfort of the moment.
"I met with Yu Bin," I said, breaking the silence as I looked at her, trying to find the right words. "He told me quite the story about your grandson. Didn't leave anything out. I can be persuasive when I want to be."
Grandma's face remained calm, though I could tell she was listening intently.
"I've been looking for Zhan since then. And I'm glad I found him," I continued, my voice growing a little more serious. "I ran into him at the convenience store, and it was like the universe was lining up for me to finally find him. But we also ran into someone... 'black.' Zhan looked terrified. I didn't ask him about it, but I could see how scared he was."
I paused for a moment, the weight of everything I was saying settling in. "Believe me when I tell you, I care about your grandson. I want to protect him, Grandma. He's been through things no one should have to endure, and I won't let him go through it alone."
There was a long silence, and I could feel her gaze on me, steady and knowing.
"Why don't you ask him? I thought he was your friend," Grandma asked, her voice calm but curious.
I hesitated, unsure how to frame the truth without making things more complicated. "We are not friends, let me be honest with you. I've been following him for a while now, and I know he won't tell me anything if I ask directly. My mom is a judge, and I can help him get justice, but he's not the type to open up easily. I also hate how his mother treated him. It's not right."
Grandma looked at me for a long moment, her eyes sharp and calculating, as if she were checking if I was telling the truth. Her silence made the weight of my words hang in the air, and I could feel her assessing the sincerity in my voice.
Just as the tension between us reached a point where I thought she might say something, my mom's video call came in. It was a welcome distraction, and I quickly picked it up, relieved to shift the focus for a moment.
"Hello, Mom," I said, the relief clear in my tone as I greeted her.