Yang-Yang started the car without saying a word, and they drove off.
Zhan did nothing but cry, his shoulders trembling with quiet sobs. In his mind, he believed his stepmother had refused to forgive him and had sent Yang-Yang away.
After a while, Yang-Yang spoke, his voice low but firm.
"I don't like this crying… it's filling my ears. If you're in pain, try to calm yourself. This crying is disturbing."
Slowly, Zhan swallowed his sobs, wiping his tears quietly.
Minutes passed in silence before Yang-Yang spoke again.
"Your stepmother is gone, Meixuan."
Zhan turned to him quickly, his heart racing.
"Gone? Where?"
Yang-Yang kept his eyes on the road.
"She wasn't originally from here, right?"
Zhan tried to hold back the fresh tears gathering in his eyes.
"She told me she wasn't… but I don't know where she's from."
Yang-Yang exhaled lightly.
"They said she returned to her country. She left two days ago."
Zhan's voice trembled.
"Why?"
Yang-Yang glanced at him briefly but didn't answer. He didn't want to tell him the truth...that her marriage had ended.
After a few minutes, he said quietly,
"Look… you have to face reality. Stop crying. It won't change anything."
Zhan nodded weakly, even though the tears still burned in his eyes.
Yang-Yang's mind was just as restless.
He didn't know what to do with Zhan…
Where to take him…
Where he belonged…
Or where to even begin.
The thoughts overwhelmed him so much that he muttered under his breath,
"What am I supposed to do…"
Zhan looked at him, but Yang-Yang simply rubbed his head and kept driving.
He pulled into the nearest fuel station to refill before heading toward Beijing.
The moment they entered, the smell of fuel made Zhan uneasy. He quietly covered his nose with his jacket.
Yang-Yang lowered the window and spoke to the attendant.
As the fuel was being pumped, Zhan suddenly struggled with the door.
Yang-Yang turned, confused.
"What is it...?"
Before he could finish, Zhan covered his mouth.
Yang-Yang quickly unlocked the car.
Zhan rushed out and immediately started vomiting beside the car.
Yang-Yang sighed, running a hand over his head.
"This is getting complicated…"
A woman from a nearby car hurried over and gently held Zhan, trying to comfort him. Others nearby showed concern.
Yang-Yang stepped out, standing there awkwardly, unsure what to say.
The fuel attendant returned with a bottle of water. The woman opened it and handed it to Zhan, who rinsed his mouth weakly.
Her husband also came over, checking on him.
"Let him sit in the car," the woman said kindly to Yang-Yang.
Yang-Yang nodded and stepped aside while she helped Zhan back into the car.
Someone cleaned up the mess nearby.
"Thank you," Yang-Yang said sincerely.
"It's nothing," the woman replied. "Take care of him."
Yang-Yang nodded again before getting back into the car and driving off.
For a long time, he said nothing.
He stole a glance at Zhan—his eyes were closed, his head resting against the seat.
Quietly, Yang-Yang adjusted the seat for him.
Zhan opened his eyes slightly.
"…Sorry," Yang-Yang murmured.
Zhan didn't respond. He simply closed his eyes again, and sleep soon took him.
He woke up to the feeling of someone tapping him.
"Come down."
Zhan opened his eyes slowly. They had arrived.
It looked like Yang-Yang's place.
Seeing that Yang-Yang had already stepped out, Zhan slowly followed, his body weak.
Inside, Yang-Yang led him to a room different from before, opened the door, and said,
"Go in. I'll bring you bedsheets."
Moments later, he returned, handed them over, and left, locking the door behind him.
Zhan followed his instructions and lay down. Exhaustion pulled him into sleep almost instantly.
He didn't wake up until noon.
His body felt cold, feverish.
With effort, he got up and went to the bathroom, then came back and leaned against the bed, tears slipping down his face again.
A knock came at the door.
He quickly wiped his tears and opened it.
Yang-Yang stood there, holding bags.
Without a word, he walked in. Zhan followed.
After setting the bags down, Yang-Yang looked at him.
"You've been crying all this time?"
Zhan nodded.
"Good," Yang-Yang said bluntly. "What are you crying for?"
The words broke him.
Zhan collapsed to his knees, crying harder, his voice shaking.
"I have no one now… I don't even know if I matter anymore…"
Yang-Yang crouched down in front of him, his tone softer this time.
"No… you matter, Meixuan. Don't ever say you have no one. Or don't you trust yourself?"
Zhan looked up quickly, wiping his tears.
"I do…"
Yang-Yang gave a faint nod.
"Then believe in that."
He pointed to the bags.
"Take a shower. Change your clothes. Eat some fruit, then rest."
Without waiting, he stood and left, locking the door again.
Zhan stayed there for a while before finally getting up.
Inside the bag were toiletries, clothes, and essentials.
A quiet warmth spread through him.
He showered, changed, and managed to eat only some apples before lying down again.
Sleep came quickly.
:
:
Later, he felt someone tapping the bed.
He opened his eyes slowly and saw Yang-Yang beside him.
He sat up immediately.
"Your temperature is high," Yang-Yang said. "Do you feel pain anywhere?"
Zhan shook his head.
He glanced at the time...it was past seven.
"Is it night already?"
Yang-Yang nodded.
"You slept all day."
Zhan lowered his head.
"What do you want to eat?" Yang-Yang asked.
Zhan stayed quiet.
"Say it."
After a moment, he whispered,
"Maybe…boiled groundnuts."
Yang-Yang blinked.
"What? Groundnuts?"
Zhan said nothing, just looking at him.
Yang-Yang sighed lightly.
"Where am I supposed to find that at this hour?"
"On the street…" Zhan replied softly.
Yang-Yang looked away.
After a short silence, Zhan spoke again, quieter this time.
"Just forget it… I'm not really hungry."
Yang-Yang shot him a sidelong look, then suddenly stood up and headed for the door as if he might explode if he stayed any longer. Zhan followed him with his eyes until he disappeared.
Slowly, Zhan forced himself up and went into the bathroom. He bathed, rinsed his mouth, and came out again. He sank onto the carpet, staring blankly at the bed. He wanted to get up… but couldn't. His body felt foreign, heavy, weak....like it no longer belonged to him.
Sleep began to drag him under right there where he sat.
The sound of the door opening startled him. He lifted his head quickly.
Yang-Yang walked in, placed a bag beside him, and sat at the edge of the bed. For a moment, he just looked at him before saying,
"I got the groundnuts… after going around almost the whole of Chongqing city."
Zhan's eyes widened.
"The whole of Chongqing?"
Yang-Yang didn't answer. His brows were drawn together, his expression tight.
Softly, Zhan said, "Thank you."
He opened the bag and saw two types....boiled and roasted. He started with the boiled ones. Every time he turned, he caught Yang-Yang watching him, though the man himself looked… uncomfortable, like he didn't belong in that moment.


After a while, Zhan asked gently, "Won't you eat?"
Yang-Yang didn't respond. Instead, he slid down from the bed and sat beside him on the carpet. He picked up a groundnut, cracked it open, then another… and another… until he had a small pile. Without looking at Zhan, he held them out.
"Eat."
Zhan obeyed quietly.
Yang-Yang kept cracking more for him, handing them over again and again until Zhan finally whispered that he was full.
"Are you sure?" Yang-Yang asked.
Zhan frowned slightly. "I feel like I might throw up…"
Yang-Yang's expression hardened immediately.
"Don't even try that mister. Do you know where I went to get those?"
Zhan shrank back slightly, nodding quickly.
After a moment, Yang-Yang rubbed his head and said more quietly,
"Just relax… the nausea will pass."
Zhan nodded again and leaned against the bed, closing his eyes. But almost immediately, the wave hit him. His stomach twisted violently.
He clamped both hands over his mouth, shaking his head desperately.
"It's coming…"
Yang-Yang shot up instantly, rushed into the bathroom, grabbed some water, and came back. Kneeling beside him, he pulled off Zhan's jacket and splashed cool water over his face and hair.
The shock of it made Zhan gasp. The nausea eased slightly.
"Sorry," Yang-Yang murmured.
Zhan exhaled shakily. "I need to rinse my mouth…"
Yang-Yang handed him bottled water. Zhan staggered into the bathroom...and this time, he threw up everything.
When he came out, he collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily, stealing glances at Yang-Yang.
Yang-Yang didn't say anything. He just watched.
Zhan closed his eyes—and sleep overtook him instantly.
He felt fingers gently adjusting his hair and opened his eyes to find Yang-Yang kneeling beside him.
"Fix your hair and get onto the bed."
Zhan obeyed weakly. As he tried to stand, dizziness hit him hard and he dropped back down.
"Be careful," Yang-Yang said.
Zhan nodded, tried again, and managed to climb onto the bed.
Yang-Yang lowered the air conditioning slightly.
"Should I turn off the lights?"
Zhan shook his head.
"Alright. Rest."
He left the room and locked the door behind him.
Before dawn, Yang-Yang came in several times....checking on him, adjusting the blanket, watching his fever worsen. Sleep wouldn't come to him at all.
By morning, Zhan was worse.
After vomiting again and barely managing to bathe, he lay weakly on the bed. Yang-Yang returned after a short while and stood beside him.
"Get up. We're going to the clinic."
Zhan didn't respond.
Yang-Yang pulled the blanket away. Their eyes met briefly before Yang-Yang looked away.
"Get up and get dressed."
He left again.
When he came back and saw Zhan hadn't moved, his tone sharpened.
"I'm waiting for you."
"I… can't," Zhan whispered.
Yang-Yang paused.
"Do you want me to dress you myself?"
Silence.
He exhaled. "Look, I don't want to come back and find you still under that blanket. Do what you need to do."
He walked out again.
With trembling determination, Zhan forced himself up. Tears filled his eyes as he slowly dressed right there on the bed. When he finished, he collapsed back down.
Ten minutes later, Yang-Yang returned.
"Let's go."
Zhan slowly sat up.
Just then, Yang-Yang's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and answered.
"Good morning, Mom… I'm sorry I didn't call. I'll be back today. I'm done here."
After ending the call, he looked at Zhan again.
"Let's go."
They arrived at a large private hospital.
After parking, Yang-Yang turned to him, his gaze firm.
"Until we leave this clinic, I don't want to hear a word from you. I'm not asking for your opinion. I'm doing what I think is right. Understood?"
Zhan nodded weakly.
"Good."
Inside, they sat across from the doctor.
After a brief check, the doctor smiled politely.
"You look quite unwell, but it's nothing serious. I'll prescribe some medication."
Yang-Yang leaned forward slightly.
"That's not why we're here, Doctor."
The doctor paused.
Yang-Yang lowered his voice.
"He's pregnant… just a few weeks. I want you to terminate it."
The doctor stared at him in disbelief.
"I'm sorry...we don't do that here."
Zhan's eyes widened in shock.
Yang-Yang pressed on, his voice quieter, strained.
"I know it's wrong… but he's my husband. The last pregnancy was difficult, and he's still nursing an eight-month-old baby. Please… help us."
The doctor looked between them, unconvinced.
"I think he should stop nursing and focus on this pregnancy. Everything will be fine."
"No," Yang-Yang insisted. "Please. I'll pay whatever you want."
After a long pause, the doctor reached for an injection.
"I'll give him something for now. You can get the rest from the pharmacy."
Yang-Yang let out a breath. "Thank you."
But suddenly....
"NO!"
Zhan burst into tears and stood up.
"I don't want it removed! Please… I don't want to abort it…"
Yang-Yang froze, staring at him in shock.
Zhan clasped his hands together, trembling.
"Please… I want to keep it…"
The doctor frowned slightly.
"He's not your husband, is he?"
Zhan nodded through his tears.
Yang-Yang's expression changed completely....cold, unreadable.
"Then deal with whatever happens to you."
He turned and walked out.
Zhan stood there crying softly before finally dragging himself out of the office.
Outside…
The parking space was empty.
Yang-Yang was gone.
Zhan stepped out through the gate, wiping tears that refused to stop....alone.
Zhan walked all the way to the roadside, tears streaming down his face, not caring who stared at him. He didn't even know where to go...and he had no money on him.
All this while, Yang-Yang sat inside his car, parked a short distance away, watching him. He leaned his head back against the seat and shut his eyes briefly, his mind in complete turmoil. He was confused… completely lost.
After a moment, he started the engine and drove slowly until he reached Zhan. He stopped beside him, his expression hard as he snapped,
"Where exactly do you think you're going now?"
Zhan turned, startled, looking at him but unable to say a word.
"Get in," Yang-Yang said firmly. "Let's go."
Quietly, Zhan opened the door and got in. Yang-Yang didn't even glance at him as he drove.
They reached the house in silence. Yang-Yang stepped out first. Zhan remained seated until Yang-Yang turned back and said,
"Should I come and bring you down myself?"
Zhan quickly shook his head and stepped out. He followed him inside.
The moment they entered, Yang-Yang dropped into the couch in the living room, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. He looked utterly exhausted.
Zhan slowly sat on the floor, curling into himself because of the cold from the air conditioner.
After a while, Yang-Yang opened his eyes and glanced at him. Their eyes met briefly before he looked away again.
Zhan kept watching him. The way Yang-Yang stared blankly at the AC unit, you could tell his mind was elsewhere—heavy with thoughts.
"I… I want to take a shower," Zhan said softly.
That was when Yang-Yang turned to him.
"Do you need me to carry you to the bathroom too?" he replied bluntly.
Zhan shook his head.
"Then get up and go."
Zhan stood and returned to the room he had been staying in. He took a shower, got dressed, and came back out.
Yang-Yang was still in the exact same position.
Zhan walked closer and knelt beside him, his voice low and fragile.
"I know I'm a burden… You don't know what to do with me, and you don't want to send me away because you have a good heart. You look like someone responsible… someone with a family that wouldn't accept this."
Yang-Yang didn't interrupt him.
"I don't want to be the beginning of your problems," Zhan continued, his voice shaking. "So please… take me to an orphanage like I asked before. I'll manage there. I'll take care of the other kids… I just…"
His voice broke.
"I just want you to visit me sometimes. Even if it's once a year… I want to feel like I have someone in this world. Please… don't forget me. I have no one."
Tears finally slipped down his cheeks.
Yang-Yang just stared at him. Then he shut his eyes, stood up abruptly, and walked out of the living room without a word.
Zhan lowered his head to his knees and cried quietly.
About thirty minutes later, Yang-Yang returned. Even though Zhan heard him, he didn't lift his head.
"Get up," Yang-Yang said. "Go to your room and cry properly."
Without arguing, Zhan stood and went inside. He cried until he was exhausted, then curled up on the bed.
After some time, the door opened and Yang-Yang walked in.
Zhan raised his head as he approached.
"Good," Yang-Yang said calmly. "I hope all the tears you planned to cry in this house are finished today. Because I'm not going to tolerate it again. Clear? Let me have some peace too."
Zhan sat up and nodded, wiping the last of his tears.
"What do you want to eat?" Yang-Yang asked.
"I'm not hungry," Zhan replied.
Yang-Yang stared at him.
"…Then maybe… an apple," Zhan added quietly.
"Not fruit. I mean real food."
Zhan hesitated, then said softly,
"Flour omelette."
Yang-Yang frowned. "What's that?"
"It's made with flour, egg, onions, pepper, seasoning, and oil… Aunt cook used to make it for us."
Yang-Yang looked at him like he'd just asked for something impossible.
"It is another African meal?....wait is Yibo an African Man"?
Zhan stay silent looking at him.
Yang-Yang frowned.
"And where exactly am I supposed to find that now?"
Zhan stayed silent.
Yang-Yang stood there for a few minutes, then clicked his tongue and pulled out his phone. He dialed a number and lifted it to his ear.
"Rui, I'm on my way home. I need you to browse and make...."
He paused, turning to Zhan.
"What was it called again?"
"Flour omelette," Zhan answered softly.
Yang-Yang repeated it into the phone. From the other end, Rui's laughter was audible. He frowned and ended the call.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket and turned to leave, but paused at the door.
"…Let me just call you Meixuan," he said, almost absently. "I'm going out now, but I won't be long. I'll bring your African food. You can stay alone, right?"
Zhan nodded.
"Good. I'll be back soon."
Yang-Yang switched off the AC, turned on the TV for him, then walked to the door.
"Take care," Zhan said quietly.
Yang-Yang turned back briefly. "…Yeah."
Then he stepped out and locked the door behind him.
Zhan lay down, though his mind was still restless. He closed his eyes anyway.
⏭ ⏭ ⏭
Meanwhile, Yang-Yang had already arrived at his Father's home. As he parked, his heart felt unusually heavy. He stepped out slowly and walked inside.
From the kitchen, he heard the sound of frying. He went in and found Rui standing by the stove, flipping something in a pan.

"
What's this?" he asked.
Rui turned, eyes widening slightly before she smiled. "Welcome back, brother. It's the flour omelette you asked for."
Yang-Yang frowned. "So… it's like eggs?"
She nodded, laughing lightly.
"Where's Mom?" he asked.
"In her room...with Aunt Mary."
He didn't reply. He turned and headed upstairs.
He knocked lightly before entering. Inside, the room was filled with boxes and scattered belongings...expensive luggage neatly arranged everywhere.
He greeted his mother respectfully, and she responded warmly, asking about his journey.
"I'm fine," he said briefly.
He greeted Aunt Mary too.
"Welcome, barrister," she said with a smile.
He acknowledged his younger siblings before sitting quietly at the edge of the bed.
"You came just in time," his mother said. "Mary just brought the remaining boxes. We're arranging everything now."
He nodded. "Okay."
"Did you finish setting up your house?" she asked.
"Yes, Mom."
"Good."
He stayed there silently until everything was packed. Eventually, his siblings left the room, leaving just him, his mother, and Aunt Mary.
His mother looked at him. "It's time. When do you think we should send the items over?"
Yang-Yang stood, then slowly sat down again on the carpet, his head lowered.
"Mom…"
Both women looked at him closely.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I… I want the marriage delivery to be postponed for now."
She frowned. "Why?"
He shook his head slightly. "Just… let it be delayed."
Aunt Mary spoke up, watching him carefully. "Did something happen? Did Zizi do something wrong?"
He stayed silent.
His mother sighed. "If this isn't something serious, don't let it become unnecessary drama. But if it is serious… then say it clearly."
Aunt Mary added, "Tell us what she did. Don't keep us in the dark."
Yang-Yang shook his head again. "Let's just drop it, Mom."
His mother exchanged a look with her sister. "Alright… I just hope everything is fine."
"Yeah," he replied quietly.
He stood up. "I'll step out for a bit."
She watched him as he left.
Aunt Mary sighed softly. "Don't force him. If he's acting like this, then it's not something small. You know him… even if you ask for years, he won't talk unless he wants to."
His mother didn't respond.
Yang-Yang went back downstairs to the kitchen. Rui had already packed the food neatly into a warmer.
He opened it and stared at the flour omelette for a moment before closing it again and picking it up.
"You're not eating here?" Rui asked, surprised.
"I'll eat with my friends," he replied casually. "I'll be back."
And just like that, he left.
When Yang-Yang returned home later that afternoon, it was around 1:30 PM.
The sound of the door woke Zhan from sleep. He opened his eyes quickly.
Yang-Yang walked in, placed the warmer down, and said simply,
"Get up. Eat."
Zhan sat up slowly. Yang-Yang opened the container for him, dish some pieces with a cup of milk tea.

Ler assumed this is it. 😅
Honestly, if Yang-Yang hadn't been watching him so closely, Zhan wouldn't have eaten even one piece. But under his gaze, he managed to eat two.
Still, he was restless the entire time...his stomach churning.
Yang-Yang's expression hardened.
"Look," he said firmly, "if you throw up again, I won't bother with your food anymore."
Tears filled Zhan's eyes. "I'm sorry… it's not intentional."
Yang-Yang sat beside him. "Fine. But try not to. Just… try."
Zhan nodded and leaned back to lie down.
"Don't," Yang-Yang said quickly. "That will make it worse."
Zhan immediately sat up again, covering his mouth, shaking his head.
Yang-Yang watched him, his face unreadable.
"I think I'm going to throw up…" Zhan whispered weakly.
Zhan tried to stand, but Yang-Yang grabbed him, pulling him back before he could move too far.
"I'm serious...you won't."
But before he could finish, Zhan vomited....right onto him, soaking his clothes and the bedsheet.
For a moment, Yang-Yang just stared at him, his face tightening in disbelief.
Then he shut his eyes as Zhan finished.
Zhan couldn't even look at him. He just sat there, breathing heavily.
Yang-Yang clicked his tongue sharply, stood up, and went straight into the bathroom.
Tears slid down Zhan's face as he leaned forward, exhausted.
About ten minutes later, Yang-Yang came out, now dressed in a simple singlet and shorts.
He walked up to Zhan and gently touched him.
"Go take a shower. I've prepared warm water for you."
Zhan shook his head weakly. "I can't…"
"Yes, you can. Go."
He helped him up and guided him toward the bathroom.
By the time Zhan came out, Yang-Yang had already changed the bedsheet and cleaned everything.
Zhan lay down again, shivering slightly.
Yang-Yang picked up the soiled sheet and his shirt, went into the bathroom to wash them, and didn't come out until he was done.
Then, without a word, he left the room.
NB
Honestly, Yibo suppose to do all this not poor Yang-Yang. 🙄
💚💙🖤❤