At first glance, anyone who saw Prince Yibo would assume he was unwell. He paced restlessly back and forth in his room, from one end to the other, occasionally running a hand through his hair as if trying to cool down the heat and pressure building in his head.
"Why?
Why?
Why?"
Why couldn't he stop thinking? Why had he not had a peaceful night's sleep since their separation? Why did every passing second and every small movement remind him of Zhan? He kept telling himself it was over, that everything was behind him....but why couldn't his mind move on? Why couldn't that memory fade?
Slowly, he made his way to the bathroom. He stood before the sink and splashed his face with cold water until he felt his heart calm slightly. He grabbed one of the small towels neatly stacked nearby, dried his face, tossed it aside, and stepped back into the room.
Just as he was about to sit down again, to take a break from his constant pacing, there was a knock at the door. Whoever it was had clearly passed through all the sitting rooms to reach his private bedroom, which meant it had to be someone close and important. Still standing, he gave permission for them to enter.
It was Xielin, who had just returned to Tianjin after completing his studies. He looked directly at Yibo, who turned slightly to meet his gaze.
"You're not even ready yet?"
Yibo glanced at the clock, clicked his tongue in frustration, and began walking toward the edge of the bed, where Xielin had already taken a seat.
"I called several times before coming in. I was with Aunty Zhaiye earlier. She said she tried calling too, but you didn't answer..."
"I was asleep," Yibo responded shortly, reaching over to grab his phone from the pillow beside him. Xielin watched as he checked his missed calls...Xeilin's, Queen's, then one from a classmate, and another from Qiantang. Yibo sighed and dropped the phone. He remembered promising Qiantang he'd come today, but now he felt no motivation to go. He wasn't in the mood to speak to anyone.
"Just thirty minutes. I'll get ready now," he said instead of answering the earlier question, heading into the bathroom. Xielin watched him again. Clearly, something was bothering him. Of course, Yibo was known for being cold and reserved, so if you didn't know him well, you'd easily assume he was always in a bad mood.
It took him nearly an hour to get dressed. He finally emerged in a well-tailored, expensive outfit that sat smoothly against his fair skin. As he applied cologne, Xielin tried once more to engage him, but Yibo remained silent...clear proof he didn't want to talk. When he was done, they both left together.
Xielin drove the car calmly, taking in the city. He was enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, though the silence between them was heavy. Eventually, he said:
"This is your first visit since you got back. You're not taking her anything?"
Yibo hissed under his breath and muttered, "Just drive."
Xielin gave him a side glance but said nothing more, focusing on the road.
A few minutes later, Yibo let out another frustrated sigh. That was the last straw for Xielin....he slammed the brakes and glared at him.
"Hey, listen. You're not going to sit there sighing and grumbling at me for no reason. I haven't done anything to you, and I don't even know what's bothering you."
Instead of replying, Yibo flung the car door open and got out aggressively, slamming it shut. Xielin stared after him, stunned. It took him a full two minutes to realize they were still on the main road, not in a proper parking space. He quickly opened his door and followed.
He found Yibo sitting casually on the hood of the car, seemingly unaware...or uncaring....that they were blocking traffic. Cars were already beginning to honk their horns in frustration.
"What are you doing? Don't you see we're still on the main road?"
Yibo gave him a look, then turned away without a word.
"Oh, come on," Xielin muttered under his breath. He hated this side of Yibo....the cold, stubborn, and completely closed-off version of him. Once that wall went up, it was almost impossible to get through.
Xielin glanced around again. They were already causing a bit of a traffic jam, with headlights flashing and horns blaring. He turned back to Yibo.
"You see this? Can you please get down so we can move the car? We're wasting time."
Yibo looked like he wouldn't respond, then finally said coldly, "Just be quiet. Don't disturb me."
"Fine," Xielin answered sharply, glaring at him. He gave him another hard stare before getting back into the car.
Yibo leaned back in his seat, eyes closed, listening to the hum of the engine as they pulled away. Deep down, he felt like even when they got to Qiantang's place, he wouldn't be able to act normal. Maybe he'd even end up making things worse.
So he said suddenly, "Take me home."
Xielin glanced at him, then looked away, keeping his eyes on the road.
"You're unbelievable. We're five minutes away. You agreed to come, and now you say you want to go home?"
Yibo said nothing more after that. The rest of the drive was silent.
***
Qiantang kept turning to look at herself in the mirror...again and again. Her maid followed her closely, checking over the makeup that had been specially summoned make-up artist and applied at home. Today was a special day. For the first time since Yibo returned, he was coming to see her.
"Haizuan, is there anything out of place? Please check again!" she said anxiously.
Haizuan smiled. "Everything is perfect. I'm sure that even Prince Yibo himself will be completely stunned when he sees you today. He won't be able to hide it."
Qiantang squealed and did a little twirl of joy, her face lighting up as she thanked Haikuan...right as her mother peeked into the room.
Her mother clicked her tongue in mild irritation at the childish excitement Qiantang was displaying, while Haizuan only encouraged it. "I wonder when you'll finally grow up, Qiantang. Now get out there...they're waiting for you in the guest sitting room."
With that, her mother dropped the curtain and walked off. Qiantang could still hear her muttering, but she just smiled to herself. She had expected this reaction and was used to it by now. She whispered a silent wish, hoping that today would bring her closer to her dream...marrying the one person her heart truly wanted: Yibo.
Once everything was set and the housekeepers had arranged the sitting room, she took one last deep breath, adjusted her appearance, and stepped out. Even at the door, she lingered for nearly three minutes, scanning the room for any sign of him. Then she finally pulled the curtain aside and entered.
Her eyes went straight to Yibo. Just seeing him made her heart flutter. If it were up to her, she would have run to him, thrown her arms around him like people in love do after being apart for so long. But that wasn't going to happen. Still, she noticed something....he was watching her. Even if it was from the corners of his eyes, he was definitely watching her.
But Prince Yibo wasn't really there in the room. His mind was somewhere else. His thoughts pulled him away from everything around him. It was as if he was seeing Zhan's face overlapping Qiantang's. As if he were staring at him entirely.
Xielin, who had been chatting casually with her, had already sensed Qiantang's growing disappointment. He could clearly see the look on her face and how the special moment she had dreamed of was slowly crumbling. Quietly, he got up, walked behind Yibo, leaned close to his ear, and whispered:
"Don't be an idiot… Come on. Do what's right."
He gave Yibo a light pat on the shoulder and walked out of the room.
Qiantang and Yibo sat in silence, locked in a stare that stretched for minutes. The quiet started to weigh heavy, and finally, she let out a soft sigh and moved closer. Her eyes stayed fixed on him, and she wanted nothing more than to hold him tight. But she remembered his earlier warning....no physical contact.
She settled onto the armrest of his chair, reducing the distance between them. With a soft, pleading voice, she said, "My prince…"
His tired eyes slowly lifted to meet hers. He didn't say anything, just kept looking, letting her drown in his gaze. She lifted her hand slowly, about to touch his face...but quickly pulled it back, remembering his rules.
"You completely ruined the excitement I've had all week, the nights I stayed up waiting for this moment. If I did something wrong, please just tell me…"
Yibo gave a weak smile, the kind that barely reached the edges of his mouth. He shook his head. "It's nothing… I just don't feel well," he said as he stood up, eyes still on her. "I'll come back another time."
With slow, measured steps, he left the room. Qiantang watched him go, her heart cracking, her eyes welling with tears. Why was he doing this to her? She stood quickly and rushed inside, on the verge of breaking down.
Outside, Xielin was leaning against the car, finishing a phone call. Yibo didn't say a word...just opened the back door and got in, even though the front seat was empty. Xielin blinked in surprise, ending his call and pocketing his phone. Five minutes passed without a single word from Yibo, as if he wasn't even in the car.
Xielin quietly got in and started the engine. Still, Yibo remained silent.
✨✨✨
It was five past five in the evening. Zhan sat on his bed reading. He set his book down and stepped into the bathroom. When he came out, he picked up the book again and kept reading. These days, the book was his only real companion. The room was quiet, and his stomach was completely empty....he hadn't eaten since the weak cup of tea he forced down that morning. He had avoided the kitchen all day just so he wouldn't run into Cunxin or the newly married bride and be dragged into another stressful conversation.
But his stomach began to twist in hunger, and he finally placed the book aside and stood up to head to the kitchen.
He walked like a stranger, like someone who didn't belong in the house... as quietly as possible, hoping no one was there. And to his relief, it was empty.
He opened a pot and scooped some of the leftover rice from lunch into a plate, then grabbed a pair of chopsticks and began eating slowly. His appetite was low, his movements were small and childlike. It was as though the space inside him had shrunk with everything else.
Zhan's heart dropped the moment he brought a spoonful of rice to his mouth... he had just heard the new bride entering the kitchen. The shock made his hand freeze, and the chopsticks slipped from his fingers as he suddenly started coughing, clutching his chest.
The new bride approached, clicking her tongue with disdain. She let out a long, exasperated sigh and said with a sneer,
"You again...sneaking in here to steal food while doing absolutely nothing. No wonder your guilt nearly choked you. You're shameless. I honestly don't even know why your father keeps you around, living among your stepmothers as if it's normal. You know everything that goes on around here, so really, you're no different from the rest of us now."
She continued, spitting out cruel, inappropriate words that made Zhan's coughing stop cold. Silent tears streamed down his face.
He lowered his head and turned away, intending to quietly leave the kitchen, but then Cunxin entered too. From the doorway, she caught on to what was happening and, without missing a beat, piled on her own share of venom.
New tears blurred Zhan's vision completely. He kept walking, fumbling his way forward as if the room had gone dark. But they didn't stop. Cunxin leaned further into the kitchen and added harshly:
"Oh, so now that we're talking, you just walk away? Of course....your mother isn't one of us, so none of us feel connected to you. Then again, the way you act like you own the place, I'm sure you'll cozy up to your mother soon enough. You're a grown man now, aren't you? I'm sure you understand what marriage means. You probably know more than us. That's the danger of keeping a divorcee person around... your father refuses to see it, but he'll find out soon enough. Either you leaves, or we do. I'm tired of your little prince act. Just because you're orphan child doesn't mean you can keep lording it over us. Your father always saying you're Yunjun blood, who cares about Yunjun or her blood, so now he knows you're Yunjun blood after sailing you to royalty for wealth. And they finished enjoying your body and tose you aside"
The words struck Zhan like knives. Still, he didn't stop walking. All he wanted was to reach his room, to shut the door, and escape the verbal assault.
Why were they dragging his mother into this? A woman who wasn't even here to defend herself? A woman who had never asked for any of this? She had long been buried, in peace. And now they used her name as a weapon in some bitter feud he didn't understand.
Had they really forgotten everything he had done for this household? Did none of it matter enough to earn him even basic respect?
He felt a burning sensation rise in his chest, as though something was tearing him apart from the inside. His breathing grew heavy...every breath like lifting a stone off his lungs.
And then...like a whisper from a dream, like one of the hallucinations he sometimes feared he was slipping into...he heard a voice at the doorway.
A voice that stopped the tears in his eyes completely.
Like rain suddenly halting midstorm.
Zhan turned his head sharply. He didn't turn because he believed what he heard... he turned because he had to see who could possibly carry that voice. The one his heart had longed for, year after year. He turned not out of belief, but out of need.
It was the voice of Aunt Anu...his Aunt Anu. The woman he saw not as an aunt, but as a mother.
Zhan's eyes locked onto her instantly.
No matter how much time passed, no matter how much the world changed, that face....her face....was something he could never forget. It wasn't just a resemblance; it was truly her. Aunt Anu. Standing right there at the edge of the sitting room, her gaze sweeping the space with a look of quiet uncertainty, as if confirming she was really there.
She wore a silk dress, long and elegantly tailored, a style that showcased both her grace and maturity. Time had touched her, yes, but not cruelly. She was not old....she was seasoned. A woman shaped by knowledge, wealth, and experience, who carried herself with poise that said: this is who I've become.
Zhan's lips quivered, both upper and lower trembling as if trying to form a word. His ears had long stopped processing Cunxin's voice....whatever she was still ranting about had faded into background noise. His eyes, and his eyes alone, were fixed on Aunt Anu. He stared as if afraid she might vanish again, like in all those dreams where she appeared, only to be gone when he woke up.
Even as he watched her with the intensity of someone seeing a ghost, he couldn't form any words. But the moment Aunt Anu opened her mouth to speak again, her gaze landed on him.
"SON!"
"AUNT!"
They called each other at the same time, both of their voices cracking with emotion.
They rushed toward one another, but before Zhan could reach her....his strength gave out. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground.
Aunt Anu caught him just in time, pulling him into her arms. His vision began to blur; his senses dulled. He could barely make out Cunxin's voice anymore....only faint fragments reached him. The only voice he could still distinguish clearly was Aunt Anu's, because he was pressed against her chest.
"And who are you supposed to be?"
Aunt Anu's voice rang out in sharp anger. "Don't you dare mention my sister's name again. You aren't even worthy to speak of Yunjun. Keep your petty venom to yourself!" she snapped at Cunxin.
Zhan felt her tighten her hold on him, cradling him protectively. And then.... darkness.
His sight, his hearing....everything faded away.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛