Zhan fell into deep distress after Yang-Yang left.
He had nothing left to do but think and cry. He had never imagined that Yang-Yang would leave him so soon. If not for the nanny, who constantly tried to comfort him, everything would have completely overwhelmed him.
Every day, he lived with the hope that Yang-Yang would return. He kept waiting… and waiting… but nothing happened. Before he knew it, two weeks had passed.
He had grown noticeably thinner, and he constantly felt a sharp pain in his chest....a pain he hadn't experienced in over a year, now returning even stronger.
It got so bad that the nanny had no choice but to insist they go to the hospital. Zhan could barely sleep at night anymore.
When the doctor explained his condition, Zhan wasn't surprised. The chest pain could develop into a serious heart condition at any time.
He spent two days in the hospital under treatment. The nanny kept going back and forth with the twins, Roulan and Rouxue, visiting him.
By evening, he was discharged, along with several instructions on how to manage and prevent the condition.
On their way home in a taxi, the nanny spoke gently but firmly,
"You're worrying yourself too much. What will happen to your children if something happens to you? At least for their sake, you need to calm down and accept your situation. Everyone has their own fate… so why not accept yours as it is?"
Zhan wiped his tears slowly.
"I don't know how…"
The nanny softened her voice.
"You need to let go of everything in your heart and face this new life....with your children. That man has gone, and he already did everything he could for you before leaving. Now, the rest is up to you."
She continued,
"As a mother, I'm advising you… for the sake of your boys, please be strong. Let go of this pain."
Zhan nodded faintly.
"Thank you…"
When they got home, Zhan paid the taxi driver and tried to carry Roulan from the nanny....but the child clung tightly to her and refused to let go.
His heart sank as he watched.
The nanny smiled and carried both children inside.
Zhan followed quietly, opening the gate.
He tried to follow the nanny's advice, knowing it was his only way forward...but it didn't bring his happiness back.
He was always sad.
He never expected Yang-Yang to leave him so early in his life. Almost every day, he thought about him.
The medication helped reduce the chest pain, but at night, he still felt like he might die.
He made efforts to bond with Roulan and Rouxue, but they refused to get close to him. They were always afraid of him, running away as if he were a stranger.
That only made him more depressed.
The nanny kept reassuring him that, with time, the children would eventually warm up to him.
:
:
When the twins turned one year old, the nanny helped Zhan enroll in Grade 10 at a nearby school.
No one would believe he had two children at home unless he said it himself. He was only seventeen...clearly still a teenager.
Slowly, he began trying to push thoughts of Yang-Yang out of his mind and focus on his studies.
He left home early in the morning and returned around 4 p.m., then attended evening lessons.
Because of that, he still had little interaction with his children...but deep down, he had started to feel love for them, even though they were still afraid of him.
Life continued like that until he completed Grade 10.
At that point, three things constantly troubled him:
The absence of his stepmother
The fear his children had of him
And his recurring heart condition
He was often going to the hospital, sometimes missing school because of it....though he remained determined.
As for Yang-Yang, he had locked that part of his life away, only wishing him well for everything he had done for him and his children.
One Sunday, they were in the living room.
The nanny was feeding Roulan and Rouxue noodles. They were now over two years old...smart, active, and always moving around.
Anyone who saw them could tell they resembled Yibo....especially Rouxue, who looked almost exactly like him.
Sometimes Zhan would watch them quietly.
Sometimes he smiled faintly…
Other times, he felt a bittersweet ache.
The nanny broke the silence.
"So… how are we going to handle the groceries? These two won't let me go alone, and if we all go, it'll just be stressful."
Zhan put down the novel he was reading.
"Just find a way to leave them and go."
Both children turned to look at him immediately.
The nanny laughed.
"You see? They heard you clearly."
Zhan smiled slightly, surprised by how sharp they were.
Roulan moved even closer to the nanny.
Zhan sighed.
"Alright, I'll go instead."
He wore his jacket, picked up some money, waved at the boys, and headed for the door.
They waved back casually.
His heart sank.
Other children would cry and cling to their parent when they tried to leave...but his didn't react at all.
Why was it different for him?
Even as he stepped out, they remained focused on their food, completely indifferent.
He didn't know what else to do to make them accept him.
He had tried everything Yang-Yang told him before he left… but nothing worked.
Standing by the roadside, waiting for a ride, his thoughts drifted again.
Was Yang-Yang right about the breastfeeding?
Did they resent him because of it?
He felt a sudden pang of regret...wishing they were still babies so he could do things differently.
Lost in thought, he didn't notice the car that had passed him, then slowly reversed back.
When he realized, he quickly looked away, frowning.
This was one of the reasons he hated going out...someone always stopped him.
He had no interest in any man or woman anymore. His heart had closed completely.
He noticed the driver stepping out of the car, so he quickly walked away without even looking at him.
Then he heard a familiar voice behind him...
"Zhan?"
Zhan turned quickly, and their eyes met.
The man stared at him, as if trying to confirm whether it was truly him or not.
Zhan, too, looked at him in surprise.
"Don't you recognize me, Zhan?" he asked.
Zhan froze for a moment, then smiled, his white teeth showing.
"I do… I'm just trying to be sure it's really you."
He let out a soft laugh. "Wow… imagine meeting again after three whole years."
Zhan smiled again, studying him carefully. He looked taller than he remembered.
"True… so, how have you been since we parted?"
He held his chin thoughtfully. "Wow, you've really grown, Zhan. Just look at how calm you are now. Do you remember when you used to walk around in soaked clothes?"
Zhan laughed, covering his face. "And now you're teasing me?"
"I'm serious," he said with a smile. "So, you live in Shanghai?"
"Yes. How is your family?"
"They're doing well. I only started working here about seven months ago."
"That's good. I wish you success."
There was a brief silence as he watched Zhan, then he asked softly, "Are you married, Zhan?"
Zhan paused, then shook his head. "Married? No… I'm still studying."
He smiled. "That's good. I wouldn't want to stand here talking to someone's husband without knowing."
Zhan simply smiled, but inside, he was surprised at how much the man had changed. Back then, he hardly spoke....always quiet, always on his phone. Suddenly, a memory crossed his mind, and his body tensed slightly....he remembered how the man had helped him when he was staying at Uncle Jincai's house, hungry and struggling.
His voice broke through his thoughts.
"Where are you heading now?" Yulan asked
"To the market."
"Alright, get in. I'll drop you off."
Zhan blinked. "You? Aren't you not from around here?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Seven months here, and you still say I'm not local?"
Zhan smiled. "Alright, fine....you're a local now."
"Exactly. Come on, get in."
He opened the car door, and Zhan got in with a smile. The man walked around to the driver's seat, and they drove off.
As he drove, he said playfully, "So… rice and stew? Irish potatoes with eggs? You still at those things enjoying them?"
Zhan burst into laughter, covering his face.
He chuckled. "You really drained my money back then. While everyone else was eating simple meals, you stuck to fancy foods....and my father used to give me money that time too."
Zhan looked at him, smiling softly. "Well, now there's nothing I don't eat."
He widened his eyes. "Really? I don't know if I'll believe that."
Zhan nodded. "I'm serious."
"Hm… that's surprising."
Zhan pouted slightly. "So you don't believe me?"
"I didn't say that," he replied lightly.
When they got to the market, no matter how much Zhan insisted he should leave, the man refused and said he would wait. Unable to argue further, Zhan quickly bought the important things he needed, planning to return later for the rest so he wouldn't keep him waiting too long.
As he parked in front of the house Zhan pointed out, he asked, "Is this your home?"
Zhan nodded and stepped out of the car.
"Send my regards to your Mommy," he said.
Zhan looked at him quietly. "I will. Thank you."
He turned to enter through the gate when the man called out, "Wait, Zhan...you didn't give me your number. Let's stay in touch."
Zhan came back, gave him his number, and watched as he saved it.
"It's nice seeing you again, Zhan," he said.
Zhan forced a small smile, waved, and went inside.
The nanny was in the kitchen, and the twins...Rouxue and Roulan...were sitting alone in the living room watching cartoons. Zhan set down his bags and walked over, sitting beside them as he watched them quietly.
They stared back at him.
He smiled at their expressions and leaned forward, kissing both of them.
Rouxue immediately wiped his cheek. Roulan, seeing that, did the same.
Zhan froze.
Before he realized it, his eyes filled with tears. He stood up quickly and rushed into his room.
The nanny soon followed, finding Zhan lying on the bed in tears.
"Sir, what happened?" she asked in concern.
His voice trembled. "Just because I kissed them… they wiped their cheeks."
The nanny laughter. "Oh, Zhan… and you're crying over that? Don't worry, I'll talk to them."
She went back to the living room, carried the boys, and brought them into the room. As she placed them on the bed, they immediately tried to climb down.
"Hey! No one gets down," she said firmly. "He is your mother, not me."
The boys started crying but stayed on the bed.
The nanny looked at Zhan. "From now on, they'll sleep here with you. You'll bathe them, dress them, and feed them. That's the only way they'll get used to you."
Zhan nodded slowly. "Okay."
"Every morning before school, you'll bathe and dress them. I'll prepare breakfast, and you'll feed them."
Zhan nodded again. He truly didn't like how distant they were from him.
The nanny left, and the boys cried for a while, wanting to follow her, but they obeyed and stayed. Eventually, they calmed down and just stared at Zhan.
Rouxue tapped him and pointed at the door. "Nanny…"
Zhan smiled softly and pulled him close. "I'm your nanny too."
The boys eventually settled beside him, and before long, they fell asleep.
Later in the evening, the nanny prepared their food...baby food and noodles...and brought it to the room before leaving again. When the boys woke up, they looked dull and quiet, watching Zhan.
He bathed them, applied lotion, dressed them, and sat them on the carpet before feeding them. They accepted the food, and Zhan felt a deep warmth in his chest.
After that, he fed them noodles with eggs.
When Roulan got full, he took the food from his mouth, stood up, and pushed it toward Zhan's mouth.
Zhan smiled and opened his mouth, eating it slowly with tears in his eyes.
By evening, around six, Zhan carried the twins to the living room. He put on cartoons, and they sat quietly watching, not even asking for the nanny.
At night, after they fell asleep, Zhan laid them gently on his bed. Just as he finished preparing to sleep, his phone rang.
He rarely received calls...only from the nanny or his classmate Aysha, who cared about him a lot.
He stared at the number before answering.
"Hello," the caller said.
Hearing the familiar voice calmed him a little, though he still didn't know why he was calling.
"Were you asleep?" the man asked.
Zhan shook his head, then replied, "No, I was just about to."
"How is your family?"
"They're all fine."
"Good."
There was a brief silence before he spoke again.
"You just left our town without saying goodbye, Zhan."
Zhan gave a faint smile. "My mother came to take me."
"I see… but how did you end up at that house in the first place?"
Zhan hesitated, then said lightly, "He's my father's brother."
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't they feed you?"
Zhan widened his eyes slightly. "They did… I was just the one who couldn't eat there food at the time."
He smiled softly. "I see… by the way, your Uncle had an accident some time ago. Did you know?"
Zhan's eyes widened. "What? No… we weren't told."
"He's fine now, from what I heard."
Zhan sighed softly. "That's good… I'm glad he's okay."
There was silence again before he asked, "Have you ever told your mother about me?"
Zhan felt a sudden chill but replied softly, "I tell everyone about you… because you fed me when I needed food."
"No," Yulan said gently, "I did that out of kindness, not for you to tell everyone."
Zhan smiled faintly.
Yulan continued, smiling as well, "So… when will you introduce me to your mother? Or should I come visit? Or… do you not want us to stay in touch?"
Zhan's heart dropped, and he was completely lost for words.
"Hello? Zhan… are you still there?"
Yulan ended the call when he noticed Zhan had gone silent. Thinking it might be a network issue, he called again.
As soon as Zhan picked up, he greeted him.
"Is your network fluctuating?" Yulan asked.
Zhan replied softly, "I can hear you now."
"Alright," Yulan continued. "I was saying
...when should I come and greet your mother? If possible, I might come with my wife. She just moved to Shanghai too, and she doesn't really know anyone here."
Zhan's eyes widened. "Wait… you're married?"
"Of course," Yulan replied. "It's been about three months now."
Zhan smiled warmly. "That's wonderful. I wish you both a peaceful and happy life."
"Thank you. So… when should we come?"
Zhan forced a small smile. "Anytime you're free… just make sure your wife doesn't misunderstand anything when she sees me."
Yulan burst into laughter. "No, she's very understanding. In fact, just a few months after we got married, she kept asking to meet from my family. And she's not Chinese, so she won't think that way."
Zhan tilted his head. "Where is she from?"
"She's Ethiopian."
Zhan looked surprised. "So she doesn't understand Chinese?"
Yulan laughed. "She understands a bit. She used to visit her aunt in my hometown during holidays, though she hasn't been around for a while. But she speaks English very well, and if i can remember you're fluent in English too."
Zhan smiled. "That's nice. I'd love to meet her."
"Then get ready with your family," Yulan said. "I'll come pick you up. She'll be really happy....she doesn't have anyone here. Although, a friend of her mother came to visit from back home two days ago and is staying with us, but she'll be leaving in a couple of days."
Zhan lowered his head slightly. "Alright… when will you come take us? Though… I'm a bit nervous."
Yulan laughed again. "Nervous? About what? I told you, she's not like that. I can even introduce you as an old friend. Or if you're still scared, I'll say you're my cousin."
"That sounds better," Zhan replied.
"Look at you, so timid," Yulan teased. "What if I marry you and brought you together?"
Zhan frowned slightly. "Who told you I'm getting married anytime soon?"
Yulan smiled. "Relax, I'm just joking. I can't even handle two partners."
Zhan only smiled.
"Since tomorrow is Monday, I'll come in the evening to pick you up. Let your mother know," Yulan added.
Zhan hesitated. He didn't want to miss his lesson classes. After a moment, he said, "Alright… we'll see. Hopefully everything works out."
"Amen… I mean, I hope so," Yulan corrected himself lightly. "Alright, I'll let you sleep. Sweet dreams."
"Thank you. Good night."
He ended the call.
Zhan let out a deep breath after realizing Yulan was married. Thank goodness, he thought....at least there would be no complications. Still, deep in his heart, he held great respect and gratitude for what Yulan had done for him back when he stayed at Uncle Jincai's house. He had truly helped him....without him, hunger might have consumed him.
Zhan smiled faintly and lay down, covering his twins with the duvet.
His thoughts drifted to Yulan's wife. He hoped she was kind....someone he could truly connect with. He was tired of his lonely life, where it was just him, the nanny, and his boys. He had no one else.
Even Aysha was only someone he interacted with at school.
Meeting Yulan again had brought him a sense of comfort. At least now, there was someone in Shanghai who knew him...and whom he knew in return.
Still, aside from Yang-Yang, there was no one he would ever open up to completely about his past. It wasn't that Yulan didn't deserve to know… but repeating that story would only reopen wounds he was still slowly healing.
With those thoughts, Zhan drifted off to sleep.
At dawn, he was seated quietly when the nanny entered the room.
They greeted each other, and she glanced at Rouxue and Roulan before asking,
"They didn't wake up during the night for anything?"
Zhan shook his head. "No…"
The nanny said, "Before you finish getting ready for school, I'm sure they'll be awake. Bathe them, and I'll go prepare breakfast now."
Zhan nodded. "Alright."
The nanny left the room. By the time Zhan stepped out of his bath around 6:40, he saw the boys sitting on the bed, already awake. He widened his eyes playfully and walked over, kneeling in front of them with a smile.
"Good morning, boys."
They both frowned slightly, staring at him....one of them even looked a little grumpy. Zhan couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright, let me get you cleaned up, then you can go to your nanny."
He returned to the bathroom, still wrapped in a towel, prepared their bath, then carried them in. After bathing and dressing them neatly in his room, he took them to the living room where the nanny fed them.
By around 7:30, Zhan was ready for school. As he reached the door, he turned back and saw the twins watching him. As if on cue, they both raised their hands to wave at him.
Zhan smiled warmly and waved back before leaving.
⏭ ⏭
Around 4:30 in the afternoon, Yulan called.
"I'm on my way now, Zhan. I'm done at the office for today."
Zhan, who was in the living room with Rouxue and Roulan, replied, "Alright, we're waiting. Take care on your way."
After feeding the boys, he bathed them again and dressed them in matching outfits. They looked incredibly adorable. Just as he was about to change into his own clothes, Yulan called again.
"I'm outside, Zhan."
Zhan's eyes widened. "Please, give me ten minutes."
"Alright, I'll wait."
He quickly got ready, then stepped out to where the nanny was washing clothes.
"We're stepping out with the twins," Zhan said. "We won't be long."
"Alright, take care. Don't stay out too late....it's already evening," the nanny replied.
"Okay."
Zhan went back, carried the boys, and headed out. His heart raced slightly...he was worried they might refuse to follow him. But they stayed calm.
The nanny walked them to the door, waving at the boys. They waved back.
Even before they reached the car, Yulan was already watching them. He stepped out, smiling.
"Wow… cute boys. Are they your siblings?"
Zhan forced a small smile and nodded.
Yulan carried them one after the other, kissing them lightly. "How are you, boys?"
They simply stared at him.
He opened the back door and looked at Zhan. "Get in."
Zhan got into the car, and Yulan handed the boys to him before going around to the driver's seat and starting the car.
Once they were on the road, he asked, "What are their names?"
"Rouxue and Roulan."
"Nice… they're handsome. Your step-siblings, right?"
Zhan gave a small, strained laugh. "Mm."
"That's good. I already told Rahel you're coming...she's very excited."
"Really?" Zhan asked.
Yulan smiled. "Of course."
"That's nice…"
It was quite a long drive. By the time they arrived, it was already past five. For some reason, Zhan felt nervous.
After parking, Yulan said, "Welcome to our home, Zhan."
Zhan smiled faintly and stepped out.
Yulan helped him carry the boys down before closing the car.
A beautiful young woman, no more than twenty, stepped out onto the balcony. She was tall, fair, and strikingly elegant.
She walked toward them with a bright smile.
"Welcome," she said warmly.
Zhan returned the smile. "Thank you."
Rahel's eyes widened as she looked at Rouxue and Roulan. "They're so adorable…"
She crouched down and gently pulled the boys into a hug. "Welcome, boys."
Zhan watched quietly, noticing that the children didn't even smile.
Yulan picked up Rouxue, chuckling. "These boys are quite reserved."
Rahel carried Roulan, laughing softly. "Let's go inside."
She led the way in.
Yulan glanced at Zhan. "Let's go."
Zhan followed behind Rahel, while Yulan walked beside him, carrying one of the boys.
NB
I have a wonderful surprise for you guy's next chapter. 😉
💚💙❤🖤