Around ten at night, Zhan sat quietly in Aunt Fin's room, a plate of fruit in front of him that he hadn't touched. Aunt Fin sat opposite him, watching closely. She had already asked him several times to eat, but he hadn't listened. He hadn't eaten proper food either.
Earlier, the neighbor had come in and removed his drip after it finished.
Zhan finally lifted his head slightly and asked in a weak voice,
"Aunt… have my housemate left?"
Aunt Fin frowned a little.
"Which housemate?"
Zhan lowered his gaze, falling silent.
"You mean Yibo?" she asked.
He shook his head gently.
"The one he came with after."
"Oh… they left earlier while you were sleeping," she replied. "But how did he become your housemate?"
Zhan slowly moved the fruit around with his fork.
"We lived in the same apartment in America."
Aunt Fin's eyes widened slightly in confusion.
"The same apartment? How? Didn't you say your neighbor was a woman?"
"He moved in later… after she left."
She looked at him more closely.
"And how did you even know the unfriendly Yibo?"
"They're cousins," Zhan said quietly. "I met him through my housemate."
Aunt Fin didn't say anything, just kept watching him.
Then, slowly, Zhan began to tell her everything.
From the moment his housemate moved into his apartment… to how he paid for his flights back and forth so he could visit his mother… the way he treated him with kindness… the time Yiming came to America again… what happened between him and A-Bo… how they took him into their home until he finished his exams…
He didn't hide anything.
Tears rolled down his face as he spoke.
Aunt Fin sat there, completely silent, her body tense. When he finished, she let out a long breath and rested her head in her hand.
She was speechless.
But something in his story… had settled in her mind.
:
:
The next morning, around ten, I-Bo pushed open A-Bo's door and found him already dressed, buttoning his shirt.
Leaning against the doorframe with folded arms, I-Bo said calmly,
"You know what, A-Bo?"
A-Bo picked up his cap and adjusted it, fastening his wristwatch.
"I'm listening."
"I don't think we should tell Dad about the money we talked about yesterday."
That made A-Bo pause. He turned to look at him.
"Why?"
"You know he'll question us...what we need that kind of money for. I think it's better I take it from my mom instead. I can't lie to Dad if he insists."
A-Bo gave him a long look.
"And your mom won't question you?"
I-Bo shrugged slightly.
"She will… but I know how to convince her."
A faint smirk appeared on A-Bo's lips.
"Convince her, huh? I see."
Without waiting for more, he grabbed his car keys and phone and walked out.
I-Bo followed shortly after.
Downstairs, their aunt looked up at them.
"Where are you going this early?"
"Bar Beach," A-Bo replied shortly, not even looking at her.
She frowned.
"Who goes to the beach this early?"
"We."
He walked out.
She turned to I-Bo.
"You're really going to the beach?"
I-Bo scratched his head lightly.
"Not now… maybe later. We're just heading out for a bit."
She sighed.
"Alright then. The traffic alone will deal with you. Your mom is on her way too....she should be landing soon."
"I know," he said.
Then he followed A-Bo outside.
Inside the car, A-Bo spoke with irritation.
"Why does she always need to know where we're going? I don't like people monitoring my life."
I-Bo glanced at him.
"What's wrong with her asking? That's normal."
"It's not," A-Bo replied. "We're not kids. Even Dad doesn't control us like that. Honestly, I might just stay in a hotel instead of going back there."
I-Bo shook his head.
"You're overreacting. It's just a simple question."
A-Bo shot him a look.
"You're used to being controlled. I'm not."
I-Bo didn't respond again. A-Bo started the car, and they drove off.
***
Elsewhere, Yu-Bin pushed open the entrance into Zhan's family compound.
Inside the courtyard, Antu's Mama and Zubei"s Mama were both cooking over open stoves, preparing food to sell. Smoke from the firewood filled the entire space. Zubei"s Mama was already complaining loudly about the damp wood they had bought.
Yu-Bin greeted them, and they responded, watching him with quiet curiosity.
He exchanged greetings with Biba, who was washing containers, then walked toward Zhan's mother's room. Pushing aside the curtain, he stepped inside.
Zhan's mother was seated against the wall, looking drained. With her were Samei's Mama, Zilie, and Shawa. The atmosphere in the room was heavy....everyone looked tense.
Yu-Bin sat down, studying Zhan's mother.
"Aunt… are you okay?"
She forced a faint response,
"Welcome, Yu-Bin."
He greeted the others, then looked back at her, waiting.
Before she could say anything, Samei's Mama spoke softly,
"Be honest with us… do you know where your friend Zhan is?"
Yu-Bin's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?"
Shawa adjusted her seat and spoke,
"Zhan has been missing since Saturday. He came back from abroad and found out he had been married off to Yiming. The next day, he disappeared. We've searched everywhere… there's no sign of him."
She paused briefly.
"And just yesterday… the police came and took Xiao Aiyin."
Yu-Bin froze in shock the moment he heard that Zhan had been married off to Yiming. He dropped his bag beside him and clutched his chest.
"Which Yiming?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Shawa adjusted her worn scarf and replied,
"The same Yiming you know....his fiancé. The marriage certificate was registered last Friday. The moment he arrived back in the country, they told him, and he ran away. Since then, no one has seen him. And Xiao Aiyin has been taken away and locked up."
Yu-Bin shot to his feet without even realizing it. The words echoed in his head, over and over. Tears filled his eyes as he shook his head, unable to speak.
Aside from Zhan himself....and perhaps I-Bo....no one felt the weight of this news like Yu-Bin did. It felt as though a massive stone had been dropped onto his chest.
"Yiming…?" he whispered.
Then suddenly, he broke down, crying deeply for his friend. The image of Zhan's housemate flashed through his mind, and he cried as if he were the one in Zhan's place.
From outside, Nenne's voice rang loudly through the courtyard as she lashed out at Antu's Mama and Zubei's Mama.
"So you still have the peace of mind to sit here cooking like nothing is happening?!" she shouted. "Anyone can have children, but the way you act like you don't care about what's happened to my son....yet you all have children too! Since my son married you, his life has been nothing but trouble, and here you are, sitting comfortably!"
Zubei's Mama clicked her tongue and muttered under her breath,
"Should we just starve because the police took him away?"
Antu's Mama ignored everything, stirring her pot as if she hadn't heard a word.
Still fuming, Nenne stormed into Zhan's mother's room, pulling the curtain aside.
"Keeping quiet won't solve anything!" she snapped. "Wherever you sent that boy, call him and tell him to come back before things get worse. Otherwise, one of his younger siblings will have to take his place with Yiming. I'm not going to sit and watch my son end up in prison again!"
Her voice trembled with anger and desperation.
"I spent so much just to get him out last time. And now this again? If Zhan didn't want Yiming, why wait until now...after everything that's already been spent on him? What kind of trouble are you bringing to my son's life?!"
She stepped closer, her tone sharp.
"Bring him back. Let them take him if they want, but release my son. I know that old woman Gaxi is involved in this. I'm going there right now....wherever you're hiding him, you will bring him out!"
She turned sharply. "Shawa, come with me."
Shawa quickly stood and followed her out.
The moment Nenne left, Antu's Mama and Zubei's exchanged looks. Then Antu's Mama let out a dry laugh.
"So this is how the drama ends," he said mockingly. "Let's see how long they keep pretending."
Inside the room, Zhan's mother leaned her head against the wall, tears silently streaming down hee face as Samei's Mama tried to comfort her.
Yu-Bin stood by the wall, crying quietly. It all felt unreal....Zhan, married to Yiming?
Missing since Saturday?
Where could he even go? Zhan had no friends in the city.
Then suddenly....his housemate.
His eyes widened.
Without wasting another second, he grabbed his bag, wiped his tears, and rushed out.
Zhan's mother watched him leave, her own tears falling endlessly. Since Saturday, she had barely eaten, barely slept....calling Aunt Fin again and again, hoping for some relief from the pain in her heart.
Outside, Yu-Bin pulled out his phone with trembling hands. He still had the housemate's number.
He dialed.
His heart pounded as the phone rang. He prayed the housemate would know where Zhan was. To him, Zhan was like family....he couldn't bear to imagine what he might be going through.
In the car, I-Bo glanced at his phone and saw Yu-Bin calling. He picked up.
"How are you, Yu-Bin?" he asked calmly.
"I'm fine…" Yu-Bin replied weakly. "Good morning…"
"Morning. You're back in the country?"
Yu-Bin nodded, though he couldn't see it.
"Please… I need to ask you something."
"I'm listening."
"Do you know where Zhan is? He's been missing since Saturday. I just came from his house… that's when I heard."
His voice broke as tears streamed down his face.
I-Bo frowned slightly. "Zhan?"
At that exact moment, A-Bo turned and looked at him sharply....then suddenly snatched the phone from his hand and ended the call.
I-Bo stared at him. "That's his friend."
"And?" A-Bo said coldly. "Were you assigned to announce his location to everyone? Why can't you keep things to yourself?"
"He cares about him," I-Bo argued. "He won't tell anyone...."
The phone started ringing again. A-Bo rejected the call and switched it to silent before slipping it into his pocket.
"You have a habit of ruining plans by talking too much," he said flatly.
"Give me my phone," I-Bo demanded.
"I won't."
Just then, A-Bo parked the car in front of Aunt Fin's house, stepped out, and left I-Bo sitting inside.
Meanwhile, Nenne and Shawa arrived at Gaxi's house....only to find two police officers already there, along with a small crowd gathered outside.
Nenne stopped in her tracks, eyes wide.
A female officer dragged Gaxi out of the house. Gaxi was crying uncontrollably.
"I swear, I don't know where he is!" she cried. "If I do, may everything I have be taken from me...I'm telling the truth!"
The officer's voice was firm.
"He was seen entering your house Saturday night. The truth is the only thing that can help you now. If you keep lying, you'll face the consequences."
Sweat poured down Gaxi's face as she panicked.
"I'll tell you everything!" she said quickly. "He came to my house around ten that night, asking me to hide him, but he didn't explain anything. The next morning, I took him to my tenant. She let him stay the night. Then the next day, he called a man....someone important. The man came with a big car and took him away. I don't know where they went!"
"Where does tenant live?" the officer asked.
With shaking hands, Gaxi pointed toward the direction of Fu'ad's mother's house.
"Get in the car," the officer ordered. "You'll show us."
Gaxi broke down completely as they opened the back door for her
.
"I'm finished… I've ruined everything…" she sobbed.
The officer adjusted her slipping scarf and got into the vehicle with her.
Meanwhile, unnoticed, Nenne quietly turned and slipped away into a nearby alley.
Moments later, Shawa turned....only to realize Nenne was no longer beside her.
✴✴✴
Zhan slowly pulled the curtain aside and peeked into the living room at Aunt Fin's place. The moment his eyes met theirs, he lowered his gaze and stepped in quietly, walking with care as if every movement weighed on him. He went straight to a seat and sat down, head bowed.
He had rushed to the room earlier just to throw something over himself before coming out.
He greeted them softly, still not looking up.
Only I-Bo responded, watching him calmly.
"How are you feeling now, housemate?"
Zhan finally raised his head slightly. "I'm much better now."
His eyes drifted to A-Bo. The moment they eyes met, A-Bo quickly looked away again.
"Good afternoon."
"Morning," A-Bo replied without looking up from his phone.
Aunt Fin walked in from the kitchen, placing a tray of drinks and water on the table before sitting down.
"How is he feeling now?" I-Bo asked her.
"He's better. He still hasn't eaten properly," she said.
I-Bo looked at Zhan again.
Without saying anything, Zhan quietly picked up the plate Aunt Fin had served earlier. He opened it, took a spoon, and began eating slowly...almost like he was forcing himself.
"I'll bring food for you both," Aunt Fin said, getting up.
A-Bo glanced at I-Bo.
"We already had breakfast, Aunt," I-Bo replied politely.
"But it's already afternoon," she insisted, heading back into the kitchen without waiting for a reply.
Zhan kept eating slowly, his hands slightly unsteady.
A-Bo stood up.
"I'll take a call outside."
He walked out just before Aunt Fin returned.
I-Bo smiled faintly and said nothing. He pulled out his phone and noticed several missed calls from Yu-Bin. He dialed back and switched to handsfree.
The call barely rang before it was picked up.
"Can you hear me, Yu-Bin?" he asked in a low voice.
"I can… please, no one knows where Zhan is since Saturday. I'm scared… he doesn't have anywhere to go in Chongqing,"
Yu-Bin said, his voice breaking.
"Where are you right now?" I-Bo asked.
"I'm in Chongqing. I just got back yesterday… I went to his house today and found out everything. They said he ran away after hearing about the marriage… with Yiming…" he broke into tears.
I-Bo's voice stayed calm. "Are you home right now?"
"No… I just left. I'm by the roadside. I don't know what to do… please, if you know where he is, don't hide it from me."
There was a brief pause.
"Listen… this stays between us. You won't tell anyone, right?"
"I promise," he said quickly. "I'm not in support of that marriage either."
"Alright… talk to your friend."
He stood up and handed the phone to Zhan.
Zhan stared at the screen for a second. He had been wishing since yesterday that Yu-Bin was close....just to comfort him, to tell him everything would be okay.
Tears filled his eyes instantly.
"Bin…" he said softly, his voice trembling.
Yu-Bin let out a breath of relief.
"Zhan… I'm so happy you're safe. Where are you? I'll come to you right now."
Zhan shook his head even though he couldn't see him.
"I'm not in Chongqing."
"What? Then where are you?"
He glanced at his housemate...I-Bo...then lowered his eyes again.
"I'm in Shanghai."
"With Aunt Fin?"
"…Yes."
"But your mom doesn't know?"
"…She doesn't."
Yu-Bin sighed deeply.
"Please don't panic, okay? That marriage won't stand. He doesn't deserve you. I can't even imagine what he would do to you… but he won't win. We'll find a way out."
Zhan couldn't respond. He just nodded silently, tears falling.
I-Bo walked over, gently took the phone from him, and returned to his seat.
"Yu-Bin."
"Yes…"
"We'll do everything we can."
"How do I reach him?"
"You have his aunt's number, right?"
"Yes."
"Use that. And keep this confidential."
"I will. I just… I feel better knowing he's safe."
They ended the call.
Zhan set the plate aside. He had barely eaten three spoonfuls.
Aunt Fin had already served food for I-Bo and sat nearby, waiting.
"Where's the other Yibo? I've served food," she said.
"We really just ate," I-Bo replied.
"If you don't eat, I won't feel good," she insisted.
He smiled slightly.
"Alright, I'll eat."
"And call Yibo to come inside."
"He had snacks in the car. He won't eat," I-Bo said casually. "He usually skips lunch."
Aunt Fin frowned. "Why?"
"That's just how he is."
She shook her head.
I-Bo glanced at Zhan's unfinished plate, then stood and picked it up.
"I'll eat this so it doesn't go to waste."
"Please leave that and take a fresh plate," Aunt Fin protested.
"This is enough for me," he said, already taking a bite.
Zhan watched him silently.
⏭ ⏭ ⏭
A little after 3 PM, A-Bo and I-Bo left the house, with I-Bo driving.
"So, what did the lawyer say?" I-Bo asked, eyes on the road.
"He wants us in Chongqing," A-Bo replied.
"Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow morning."
I-Bo nodded and didn't say anything else until they got home.
After parking, he turned to A-Bo.
"Since we're leaving tomorrow, forget about that hotel idea."
A-Bo scoffed slightly.
"She's too controlling. I don't like being watched all the time."
I-Bo sighed.
"There's nothing wrong with someone asking where you're going."
A-Bo didn't reply.
I-Bo let out a quiet laugh but didn't respond as they both stepped into the house.
Aunty was seated in the living room, while Tian lay beside her, his head resting on his mother's lap.
Without even glancing at him, A-Bo greeted her briefly and headed straight upstairs. Tian greeted him too; he responded shortly as he climbed the stairs.
I-Bo sat down and greeted Aunty.
"Just getting back now? Or did you not go to your beach outing after all?" she asked.
"We canceled it," he replied, his eyes drifting toward Tian, who kept his face tight, focused on his phone as if he wasn't there.
Aunty looked at him.
"Didn't you see your brother?"
"Oh… okay. Good evening," he said flatly, still pressing his phone.
"How was the trip?" I-Bo asked.
"It was fine."
"Your mom is upstairs," Aunty added.
"Oh, okay."
He stood up and headed upstairs.
Tian followed him with a side glance until he disappeared.
After he left, Aunty turned to him.
"You two argued again?"
Tian only frowned slightly and kept scrolling.
"You're usually close," Aunty muttered.
.....
I-Bo pushed open the door to his mother's room and found her on a call. He walked over, sat beside her, and leaned gently into her, resting his head on her shoulder.
"Mom…"
She ended the call and turned to him.
"Where have you been all day? I thought you'd come pick us up at the airport."
"What time did you arrive?" he asked.
"11:30 in the morning."
"I went out with A-Bo. Didn't Aunty tell you?"
She frowned.
"If it were your father arriving, you'd drop everything to go meet him. But your own mother arrives and you disappear."
He said nothing.
She studied his face.
"Is it your studies? Are you okay?"
"It's just travel stress from coming back to China," he replied.
"I knew Yibo'd convince you to come here instead of the UK," she said.
I-Bo frowned slightly.
"He came back before me. He didn't just arrive yesterday...he's been here since last week."
She didn't respond.
He stood up.
"I'll go take a shower."
"Get ready tomorrow....we're traveling to Chengdu," she said. "I don't understand why you're lingering in Shanghai. You never even like staying here, but because of A-Bo, you suddenly do. Tomorrow we're leaving, and Tian will spend his break there too."
He turned back briefly.
"I'm not done with what I'm doing here. You can go ahead."
Without waiting for her reply, he walked out.
Around 5:30 PM, I-Bo and A-Bo came downstairs and headed into one of the rooms where I-Bo's mother was seated with a guest....an old friend she had met years ago abroad, now like family.
A-Bo sat on a single chair, greeted them briefly, then returned to his phone. I-Bo greeted politely as well.
The woman, Mrs. Batui, smiled warmly as she looked at them, then turned to I-Bo's mother.
"Which one is your son?"
She pointed at I-Bo.
"That's him."
Mrs. Batui studied him with a smile.
"I can see the resemblance."
A-Bo didn't even look up.
"I'm heading to the gym," I-Bo said.
"At this hour? With Shanghai traffic?" his mother asked.
"It's not far."
"There are gyms in this area too," Mrs. Batui added.
I-Bo turned to A-Bo.
"Let's go."
A-Bo stood immediately and headed out, with I-Bo following.
As soon as they left, Mrs. Batui leaned closer.
"That one is his cousin, right? They look very close and looks so much alike."
"Yes," his mother replied. "They are."
She lowered her voice.
"Is he the crowned prince everyone talks about?"
His mother clicked her tongue.
"Yes, he is."
"What's his name?"
"They share the same name....Wang Yibo. But people call him A-Bo."
Mrs. Batui shook her head.
"Interesting… but I-Bo doesn't seem involved in all that royal stuff's."
His mother sighed, clearly frustrated.
"My biggest concern is that he still doesn't understand himself. He just follows A-Bo everywhere. Even in America, A-Bo was the one leading him around."
Mrs. Batui nodded.
"That's obvious. He doesn't even seem competitive. And honestly, it's clear the king favors his own son...the one he made crown prince instead of I-Bo. Isn't I-Bo older?"
"By almost three months," she replied.
Mrs. Batui held her chin thoughtfully.
"But after I-Bo's father...King Wang Hao....passed, didn't his brother, the current king, take responsibility for him?"
There was a pause.
"When I was seven months pregnant with him, his father died," I-Bo's mother said quietly. "His younger brother became king. Their father was King Wang Hang. There were three children....my husband, who was the eldest, then A-Bo's father, and their sister… the one we call Aunty. The owner of this house"
"I see…"
Their conversation stopped as Aunty entered the room with a plate.
"I've grilled some chicken for you," she said.
"Thank you," Mrs. Batui replied with a smile.
"I'll bring drinks from the living room," Aunty added before leaving again.
As soon as she stepped out, I-Bo's mother continued.
"She doesn't like that A-Bo was made crown prince either."
Mrs. Batui shook her head.
"And you just accepted that? If I-Bo's father were alive, would his younger brother ever become king? And even then, shouldn't he have named his late brother's son as heir instead of his own?"
A faint smile crossed her face.
"It doesn't bother me. I-Bo is doing fine. He doesn't even care about power. As long as my son is okay, it doesn't matter whether he's crowned or not."
"Does the king have only A-Bo as a son?" Mrs. Batui asked.
"Yibo? No. His wife...the one they call Aunty....has a 29-year-old son. If anything, her son should have been the heir."
Mrs. Batui stared at her, surprised.
***
By 7 PM, A-Bo parked the car outside the house. Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen...it was their friend Sanxing.
He hesitated… then picked up.
A few seconds into the call, his eyes widened.
"What?!"
I-Bo turned sharply, alarmed by his tone.
A-Bo slowly lowered the phone, his expression shaken.
I-Bo's heart jumped instantly...his mind went straight to Zhan.
He snatched the phone.
"What happened?!"
A-Bo couldn't speak.
I-Bo quickly checked the call log....Sanxing.
That gave him a slight sense of relief. If it was Sanxing, then maybe it wasn't about Zhan.
He called back....but no answer.
A-Bo finally spoke, his voice low.
"Sanxing… he was shot."
I-Bo froze.
"What? Shot? Is he dead?"
A-Bo dialed again, but still no response.
Without wasting another second, I-Bo opened his phone and began searching for the next available flight to Chongqing.
💚💙❤🖤