Zhan tried to gather his composure and steady his breathing. He let out a slow breath, swallowed past the tightness in his throat, and said, "You're not serious… are you?"
Yibo finished loosening the bandage on his hand and switched the phone back to his right hand. His eyes drifted across the gym, where other people were busy with their workouts, as he replied,
"I'm serious, Zhan. The idea of having you as mine is far too sacred for me to joke about."
A sudden weight settled in Zhan's chest. He closed his eyes, absorbing the words. They didn't need repeating...their meaning and force were enough to echo in his mind for a long time. Without opening his eyes, he said softly,
"One week is too soon. People don't get married in just one week."
Yibo smiled faintly, pressing his lips together as he watched a huge man lifting weights across the room.
"Have you never attended a wedding? Do you not know how a marriage is conducted?"
"I do," Zhan replied quietly. "I know how it's done."
"Do you know that in less than a minute, you could legally be mine?"
Zhan fell silent. Yibo continued,
"If you remove that one minute, there are still ten thousand and seventy-nine minutes left in that one week, Zhan. And you're saying that's not enough?"
"No…" Zhan shook his head, as though Yibo could see him.
"I mean, before that, there are many things...so many preparations that have to be made."
"Before what?" Yibo asked calmly, as if he had only heard that part of Zhan's words.
"Before you become my husband?" he added.
Despite his embarrassment, Zhan couldn't help smiling. Yibo heard it in his voice and smiled too.
"As long as they give you to me, Zhan, I'll let you take all the time you need for your preparations, alright?"
Zhan bit his lip, fidgeting with his fingers. He knew Yibo was waiting for an answer, but he honestly didn't know what to say. His mind hadn't accepted this reality yet, and he couldn't even imagine where to begin. He was still trying to figure out how to explain that he was being expected on Saturday....so how was he supposed to process something this big on top of that?
Fortunately, Yibo let the topic drop.
"Alright then. I'll come on Saturday."
Before Zhan could respond, Yibo added, "And when will I come to greet your Nainai?"
Zhan continued fiddling with his hands as he replied, "Let me talk to her first. You told me not to tell anyone yet....she doesn't even know you at all."
Yibo nodded in understanding and glanced up at the large clock mounted high on the gym wall.
"By when will you tell her? Before six or seven o'clock?"
"Huh…?"
Zhan hadn't even realized he had spoken aloud.
"Before 6 p.m.?" Yibo repeated calmly.
Zhan shook his head.
"No, not today. I'll tell her before Saturday."
Yibo exhaled softly before calling his name.
"Zhan…"
"Yes?"
"Do you speak a different language at home?"
"No."
"I'm just wondering how long it could possibly take you to say, 'Yibo will come to greet you.'"
"But she doesn't even know who you are..."
Yibo cut in gently, nodding.
"Then let me tell her about myself when I come."
Zhan was startled.
"What will you say to her?"
Yibo's voice flowed on, deep and steady in Zhan's ear.
"I'll say: 'I know you don't know me Nainai. My name is Yibo. I'm the one who wants to marry Zhan. I love him deeply, Nainai...so deeply it's hard to put into words. He's the only person I want to spend my life with. Ever since I met him, he's always on my mind. And when I'm with him, I think of nothing else...only him. Only him, Nainai. Please, help me. Please marry him off to me.'"
"Oh my goodness…"
Zhan didn't know when the words slipped out of his mouth, accompanied by a soft laugh as he covered it with his hand.
Yibo laughed too, then said,
"Be ready to receive me after seven o'clock. I'll come and greet Nainai. I can't wait until you're ready to tell her, Zhan. I can't wait to know that in just a few days, you'll be mine."
With that, he ended the call abruptly. Zhan stared at the phone in his hand as Yibo rose to his feet and headed back to his locker.
He pulled his shirt out of the locker and slipped it on, rolling his shoulders back as he adjusted it. Then he took a bottle of water from inside, shut the locker, and headed toward the exit.
At that moment, his mind felt strangely light...no weight, no worries...only thoughts of how the night ahead would unfold.
⚡⚡⚡
Zhan stood in front of the mirror, staring into his own reflection. His eyes lingered on the subtle liner around them; apart from that, his face was bare...no powder, no makeup. He knew Bai take his powder to evening lessons. Bai had always been like that...returning home with make up, surrounded by his friends, carefree in the way only teenagers could be. Makeup mattered to him anyway; they always went straight home afterward, and their lessons teachers were mostly married men, not young ones who would draw attention.
Zhan hadn't bothered with powder. Even if he did, the heat and sweat would have wiped it off in no time.
But Yibo had placed him in a position he had never imagined himself in. His mind was completely occupied by what Yibo had said before ending their call.
He checked the time...it was around 5:30 p.m. That meant there was barely an hour and a half before the six o'clock deadline Yibo had mentioned. What exactly was he supposed to do within that one hour?
Feeling overwhelmed, Zhan called Aunty Shui and told her about Yibo's visit and that he had agreed to come on Saturday. He deliberately avoided mentioning the rest; he doubted she would even believe it.
"Honestly, this Yibo of yours, Zhan," Aunty Shui said. "I like his boldness and confidence. He doesn't hesitate or play games like you do. May God bring him safely. Those are the kind of men we want. Now go and tell Nainai."
Zhan hesitated.
"But Aunty, what exactly should I say to her? You know she only knows about Peng-ge…"
"She'll know about this one now," Aunty Shui replied calmly. "You'll explain everything clearly so she understands that your heart was never with Peng."
Zhan fell silent, unsure of what to say.
"Zhan, there's no other way," she continued. "If I were there, I would explain it with you. This isn't something to be discussed over the phone. You understand, don't you?"
He nodded quietly. With a heavy heart, he went to find Nainai, determined to speak to her... though he had no idea how he begin, what words he use, or how he structure the explanation. All he knew was that Yibo had placed him in an unavoidable position.
"So," Nainai finally asked, "do you think this doctor is better than Peng, for you Zhan?"
The question unsettled him, but he nodded anyway. He had no other answer. To his surprise, Nainai nodded too.
"Alright then. May heavens bring him safely."
Zhan studied her face, unable to read her emotions....was it worry, displeasure, or anger? She said nothing more, continuing with her chores and conversations as if nothing had happened. That silence unsettled him even more as he imagined how the evening might unfold once Yibo arrived.
He changed into a bright white outfit. Even the patterns on it were white. Nainai had bought it for him on her third trip to Kuwait, and he rarely wore it, afraid that frequent use would dull its brightness. Tonight, he chose it deliberately.... hoping its lightness might reflect onto his heart and bring reassurance that things would go well.
Ten minutes earlier, Yibo had called to say he had arrived. Zhan delayed a little, lost in thought. When he finally checked the time, it was 8:02 p.m. He adjusted his cap, pulling it lower over his hair, then stepped out of his room.
He approached Nainai and crouched respectfully.
"Nainai, he's here."
She nodded.
"Go and bring him in. But first, bring me my brown shawl."
Zhan was surprised...Nainai rarely wore that shawl unless she was expecting an important guest. With that thought, he fetched it, handed it to her, then went outside.
He spotted Yibo's car parked where it usually stopped...near the far end of the compound wall, where the light was dim. The car was there, but he couldn't see anyone inside. He walked closer and realized the car was locked and empty.
Before he could react, he felt someone standing directly behind him.
"Are you looking for me?"
Yibo's voice came softly beside his ear.
Zhan spun around instinctively, stumbling back a few steps. Yibo stood so close that his presence filled both his vision and his chest. He looked nothing like the man Zhan knew from the hospital...his confidence and bearing were overwhelming.
"Welcome," Zhan managed to say.
Yibo was dressed entirely in white, just like him...simple, elegant, with no ornamentation except subtle detailing near the buttons. A brown-toned cap rested neatly on his head, accentuating his features. The sight only deepened Zhan's awe. For a moment, he wondered if someone like Yibo....accomplished, composed, striking...would truly choose him in a world where men like him often sought partners with status, wealth, or fame.
"I should be the one welcoming you," Yibo said lightly. "I've been here for a while."
Zhan offered a small, nervous smile and lowered his gaze.
"I'm sorry....Nainai was busy. I had to wait for her to finish."
"Those times are long gone, aren't they?" Yibo replied smoothly.
Zhan hesitated.
"Which times?"
"The time when you told her who I am to you."
Zhan smiled despite himself. He sensed Yibo smiling too as he stepped closer, glancing briefly at a passerby behind them.
"If I start telling you how good you look tonight, Zhan, I don't think we'll ever make it inside to greet Nainai," Yibo said softly. "Take me to her before I change my mind."
Zhan smiled again and turned ahead, walking toward the house, his heart racing.
They met the driver in the parking area. Yibo greeted him first, and when the driver noticed Zhan beside him, he launched into warm greetings and prayers. Zhan silently hoped Yibo would enter quickly...before Uncle Ruobing appeared. His car was already there, and if he saw it, he would know Yibo had arrived. It would be better for them to meet properly later, under calmer circumstances.
They first encountered Noni and household staff in the middle of the compound, close to the kitchen. They were busy clearing away dinner, because when Zhan had stepped out earlier, he had heard Suire telling them to pack the food so she could go to the pharmacy.
Zhan was taken aback by the way Yibo bow fully to the ground to greet them. He even picked up a small child...Aiyu, Mama Hansu's grandchild, whom she often brought along...holding him gently while asking his name. To Zhan's surprise, Yibo then pulled some money from his pocket and handed it to the boy before standing up again. The women thanked him warmly, commenting on how thoughtful and generous he was.
Zhan turned after Yibo stood up, and they went upstairs together, turning left toward Nainai's room. When they reached her door, Zhan paused and glanced at Yibo. For a brief moment, his heart told him that Yibo might actually say to Nainai what he had said earlier on the phone. Almost instantly, Zhan rejected the thought...he didn't believe Yibo would really do that.
He slowed his steps and caught up with Yibo on the veranda.
"So you're just greeting her, right?" Zhan asked.
Yibo shook his head slowly, looking straight at him.
"After the greeting, I'll tell her what I told you."
Zhan stiffened, even though part of him thought Yibo was teasing. Still, he said anxiously, "If you say that, Nainai will never accept you."
Yibo smiled....just enough to confirm that he was teasing...and replied calmly, "Then tell me...what should I say? What should I say to make her give you to me in one week?"
The words weighed heavily on Zhan. This wasn't a phone call anymore; Yibo was standing right in front of him, saying it directly. Zhan glanced down the hallway toward Mama Taichen's room to make sure no one was around, then lowered his gaze...only to notice the women downstairs, their eyes subtly fixed on them.
Without another word, Zhan turned and hurried into Nainai's room. He knocked lightly and stepped inside. Nainai was seated, wearing the shawl he had brought her.
"Nainai, he's here," Zhan said.
"Then bring him in," she replied. "I've laid out the carpet."
Zhan noticed the green carpet spread neatly in the middle of the room. He swallowed nervously, then turned and opened the door. As Yibo stood there, Zhan felt his presence was even more striking than before.
When Yibo entered the sitting room, the scent of his cologne filled the space immediately. Zhan felt himself tense as Yibo walked past him and moved directly onto the carpet. He knelt respectfully, greeting Nainai in a steady, composed manner. She responded to each greeting in turn, and Zhan found himself unsure of where to sit or what to do.
Finally, he settled on a chair near the door...the one Bai usually used for studying...and sat quietly, observing them from a distance.
"So," Nainai began after the greetings, "I was told you're a doctor. But what kind? These days doctors specialize in different things....heart, kidneys, and so on."
"Yes," Yibo replied politely. "Some treat general cases, others specialize. I mostly perform surgeries."
She nodded.
"So you're one of those who cut a person open and sew them back together?"
Yibo smiled.
"Not exactly. We only operate on the necessary part to remove what needs to be removed."
She shook her head.
"I don't like surgery. Years ago, my niece had one and she didn't survive. Ever since then, I've never liked it."
Yibo looked at her attentively.
"What kind of surgery was it?"
"Childbirth," she said. "It was almost thirty years ago. She begged her husband not to allow the surgery, but he listened to the doctors. She never came back out."
From there, the conversation deepened. Nainai spoke at length about that surgery, while Yibo patiently explained where complications might have occurred and what could have led to her death, Nainai disagree to his points. Finally when Yibo mentioned that it was her time..., Nainai finally nodded in agreement. That led her into a broader discussion about how common death seemed to be nowadays.
"In the past," she said, "you wouldn't hear of a death for a long time. A child could grow up without even knowing what death was. When it happened, the whole area would fall silent. Children would be kept indoors, and when the body was finally brought out, the women would cry openly. But now, someone can die on one street and people on the next street don't even know. Everyone just goes about their business. I truly felt this change one day when we were attending a wedding in Shanghai. Just as we were about to enter the venue, a group of men rushed past carrying a dead body straight through the wedding crowd. People barely reacted. I turned back immediately...I refused to enter."
Yibo nodded.
"Times have changed. Every era comes with its own realities. Death has become something people think they're used to."
"That's why I hardly listen to the radio or news on TV anymore," she replied. "Every station talks about deaths...seven here, five there."
Zhan watched in amazement as the conversation stretched on effortlessly. It was clear that Yibo knew exactly how to engage Nainai...how to speak in a way she appreciated. He couldn't help comparing it to Peng; even with Peng, Nainai never spoke this long. At most, it was a brief exchange, or Peng would do all the talking while she listened.
Bai eventually returned from his lesson and joined them. He and Yibo spoke at length too, with Yibo asking about his studies. Bai even brought Yibo water and soft drinks. Zhan hadn't done any of that...Nainai's presence alone had kept him too tense to move.
When Yibo finally stood to take his leave, he said nothing even close to what he had teased Zhan about earlier. Zhan felt foolish for worrying...clearly, Yibo had only been joking.
Zhan and Bai escorted Yibo outside. At the back of his car, Yibo brought out two shopping bags...one for Nainai and one for Bai. He then handed Bai an envelope, which Zhan immediately recognized as money, and asked him to give it to the household staffs. Even the driver received something quietly. Bai thanked Yibo enthusiastically and walked back inside, beaming.
After Bai left, Zhan stood there unsure of what to say. What kind of gratitude could possibly be enough? Yibo had not only been generous, but had made everything go more smoothly than Zhan had ever hoped.
When Zhan finally tried to thank him, Yibo barely listened...his phone rang, and his attention shifted entirely to the call. He said a quick goodbye and drove off.
Back inside, Zhan's thoughts tangled again when he saw what Yibo had left behind: four designer outfits in the bag meant for Nainai, neatly arranged with an envelope of cash; two outfits for Bai, which Bai admired excitedly; and another envelope filled with crisp new bills for the staffs.
"That's a grand gift," Zhan overheard Nainai saying to Noni who she had called over.
The words struck something deep inside him...something he hadn't even realized was there.
Friday, 16 January
2026
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛