They were all seated in the sitting room watching TV, while Niu and Jiangji sat to the side, eating from the same plate. Aunt Anu and Zhan were on the couch, though it was clear Aunt Anu was paying more attention to TV than to the Zhan. Zhan, on the other hand, couldn't fully concentrate....half his mind was on the show, the other half on the conversation he's having with Que on the phone about the house and other updates he'd missed.
Zhan let out a heavy sigh, which made Aunt Anu turn toward him. Their eyes met, and Zhan quickly said, " I think I most go to China, that's exactly how my heart feels, Momma."
"We'll be in China soon. I doubt Papa will let us stay another two months... But I've been meaning to ask you… That trip of yours, I think it didn't suit you. When you came back, you looked like someone who just returned from a hospital bed."
Zhan remained quiet, his heart racing. No one could read him the way Aunt Anu did. She was the only parental figure he had now, so he never hid anything from her. He told her everything...from his trip to Dubai to his return.
Aunt Anu also fell silent, clearly processing it all. Even if she tried to accept the situation, one thing she would never believe was the nonsense Prince Yibo was saying....that Zhan's still his husband after all this time. That was pure mockery and insult to intelligence.
"As I've told you before," she began firmly, "I don't want you stressing yourself. No one has the right to control your life anymore. No one can force you into anything concerning your future. Let him chase after you. Maybe this is karma finally playing out… they'll harvest what they've sown."
Her last words were perfectly timed with the sound of the doorbell ringing.
Aunt Anu signaled Niu to go check who it was while she and Zhan continued their conversation. Niu returned shortly with a bright smile, laughing over something the visitor had said....that she shouldn't tell anyone he resemble Jianghu, or they'd end up arguing right from their first meeting. The resemblance between him and Jiangji and Jianghu was uncanny, and Niu had blurted it out to him without thinking.
Prince Yibo was confident that if Niu told Zhan this, there was no way Zhan would come out to see him. That would cause a problem. So, he pleaded with Niu to keep quiet, but her mouth kept moving....clearly searching for the right person to tell.
Curious, Zhan borrowed Aunt Anu's jacket that was nearest to him and put it on. When Aunt Anu guessed,
"Maybe it's Dr. Adrian,"
Zhan relaxed a little. There had been a lot of talk about Dr. Adrian and what happened in Dubai, so it was possible.
But he hadn't informed him he was coming over. Even so, his suspicion that it was indeed Dr Adrian made him decide to go out and check.
Prince Yibo stood by the door, arms folded across his chest, his back turned. So, Zhan didn't see his face until he reached him.
Just a few steps away, Zhan caught the familiar scent that always lingered around Yibo. Yibo also sensed Zhan's closeness, turning quickly. Zhan's heart skipped as fear, anxiety, and shock hit him all at once. How had Yibo found his house? Zhan quickly turn to flew...
With boldness and determination, Yibo swiftly blocked his path, almost as if trying to merge into Zhan himself. His eyes burned with an unreadable intensity as Zhan instinctively took a step back, his usual irritation surfacing anytime they ended up face to face.
"Move. I'm going back inside," Zhan snapped.
Yibo gave him a calm, carefree smile, as if nothing serious was happening.
"Funny," Yibo teased, "Your face doesn't look like the type that enjoys arguments, but I guess I was wrong. It's been days… you didn't miss me I can see that, not even my troubles. Only I know what I've been through these past days. You've denied me your beautiful face, you've denied a father of the chance to see his own eight years children. You've even denied them the warmth of their own father."
Zhan instantly saw through Yibo's words. It was typical of him...to make light of everything, to joke as though nothing significant had happened, as though he hadn't abandoned his children from the moment they existed. But Zhan realized that staying silent only emboldened him. So, Zhan folded his arms across his chest, daring to meet Yibo's piercing gaze despite how unsettling and dominant it was.
"Oh really? Interesting," Zhan began sarcastically. "I'm amazed you still have the audacity to call them your children. You seem to forget you abandoned them and their me years ago. Maybe you should hurry up and remove them from the list of people you call your offspring."
The confidence, anger, and strength in Zhan's voice captivated Yibo. It also gave him an excuse to stare at Zhan's flawless, carefully maintained face. His eyes lingered on Zhan's full, well-shaped pink lips. He didn't realize he was reaching out to touch Zhan's lips until his hand was halfway there. Quickly, he withdrew it.
With a soft, persuasive tone, Yibo said,
"Calm down, baby… this anger doesn't suit you. And honestly, it's not right for a husband to raise his voice at his… well, husband."
He moved even closer, their breaths mingling, his voice soft and dangerously inviting, "I never said I would ever let the world, or any outsider, have my children. I'm Prince Yibo. Even if those kids were from a one-night stand with someone I couldn't stand, I still wouldn't let them go. But these aren't kids from a mistake. These are ours....born from marriage. If you really knew Yibo, you wouldn't have said that. My blood, my legacy, my pride… Even if they were buried in the ground, I'd honor their grave. Please, with everything that matters to you… let me see them. Let me hold them, even if you personally won't listen to me."
He paused, staring deeply into Zhan's eyes.
"If you think all these walls you're building are enough to make me walk away… let me make one thing clear....I'm not tired. I won't get tired. If you have more obstacles, bring them. As long as I still breathe, I'll find my way back into your life a second time."
Zhan couldn't help but wonder what kind of person Yibo truly was. His words, his tone, his entire demeanor....it was all too convincing to dismiss.
Zhan took a small step back, lifting his gaze to look at Yibo, ready to say something that would surely rob him of sleep tonight. But then, he noticed Yibo's attention was fixed on the front door.
Curious, Zhan tilted his head slightly to see what Yibo was staring at. It was Jianghu and Jiangji, play-fighting over a toy water gun. Both of them wanted it, but Jiangji, being stronger, had already claimed it. Jianghu started walking toward Zhan in tears, clearly on the verge of a full-blown meltdown.
Zhan never thought anything could make him run the way he had in his youth...until now. Without thinking, he dashed forward, reaching the kids before Yibo could, grabbed their hands, and pulled them inside the house, slamming the door shut behind them.
At that exact moment, Niu, unable to hold back her curiosity, was already telling Aunt Anu about the stranger at the door who looked exactly like Jianghu. That's why she'd been sent to call Zhan.
Aunt Anu paused for a moment, deep in thought. She knew the man didn't know where they lived, but something still unsettled her.
The way Zhan rushed in with the kids confirmed her suspicions. His whole body was trembling, and he looked seconds away from crying.
"Niu, take the kids inside. Now, all of you," Aunt Anu instructed firmly. Without hesitation, Niu nodded and guided all the children out of the sitting room, leaving only herself and Zhan behind.
She moved closer to him, grabbing his shaking hands.
"What happened? What's wrong?"
"It's him, Momma… I don't even know how he found this house, but he did. He saw the twins outside, came straight to them… Momma, I don't want him near their lives. I don't want him to take them from me. Now he knows where I live…" Zhan's voice trembled with fear and anxiety.
Aunt Anu rolled her eyes slightly.
"So what if he knows? So what if he saw Jianghu and Jiangji? He can't do anything unless you let him did, unless you allow it. I've told you this over and over again."
Before she could finish, the door to the sitting room opened. She knew exactly who it would be....Papa. But according to his plans, he wasn't supposed to be home yet. Confused, she turned to the door as he stepped inside.
He greeted them, though his face showed concern...something was clearly wrong between the of them.
"Everything okay, Papa? You're back early," Aunt Anu asked as he sat down, his expression tense and uneasy.
"It's Mother… she's not feeling well. Father called me to tell me. I figured it's better if we prepare to travel now rather than waiting for the end of the month. We'll leave for China within the week."
Concerned, Aunt Anu replied softly,
"She didn't tell me anything when I called. She just acted like everything was fine."
"She never tells anyone. That's just how she is," Papa responded.
"I hope she gets better," Aunt Anu muttered with concern as she left Zhan's side, heading to the kitchen to get Papa a drink. Zhan, his body weak with emotion, added quietly, "Poor Granny Ruoye… I hope she feels better soon."
"Amen to that," Papa replied, then looked around, "What's going on? I walked in to find you both standing there like statues, and the house feels eerily quiet. Where are all the kids?"
Knowing how worried Papa was about his mother's health, Aunt Anu didn't want to add to his stress.
"It's nothing, really. We were just talking, and you happened to walk in," she explained, fetching him a drink from the fridge while calling the kids to let them know Papa was home.
Meanwhile, Zhan slipped away quietly, trying to pull himself together.
Outside, Yibo remained frozen in place, standing by the house where Zhan had disappeared with the kids. His mind raced, overwhelmed by countless thoughts.
He stood there for a long time before his legs finally gave up on him. With an exhausted breath, he made his way to his car, climbed inside, and shut the door.
He let his head fall against the steering wheel. Images of his children danced before his eyes, a fierce, overwhelming love for them surging through his chest.... stronger than anything he'd ever felt before. No one else could ignite such emotion in him...not even his own mother. But mothers… mothers were different. They did everything under the name of love, even when it unknowingly harmed their children.
Papa arrived and entered the house without noticing Yibo sitting in the car, hidden from view. Papa probably assumed it was a neighbor's guest.
****
Three Days Later
Prince Yibo had spent three consecutive days camped outside Zhan's house, sitting by the front door. He called and messaged Zhan repeatedly, begging him to at least let the kids come out so he could see them, even if they didn't approach him. If Zhan wouldn't allow that, then at least let him see Zhan himself.
Yibo didn't care how many hours, days passed as he waited....his only wish was that Zhan would eventually pity him and grant his request.
But his constant presence had begun to feel suffocating to Zhan. Though he never once laid eyes on Yibo, just knowing he was outside was unbearable. Still, Zhan forced himself to stay inside, ignoring the texts, ignoring the calls. He even took a break from work, and thankfully, Dr. Adrian had agreed to grant him leave.
Zhan had been quietly listening, waiting to see if Dr. Adrian would say anything, but he didn't. Still, there was a noticeable coldness in his tone during their phone calls..different from usual. After three days, Dr. Adrian finally asked Zhan when he planned to visit him at home, saying there was something important they needed to discuss.
But Zhan already knew...he was sure Dr. Adrian had some story to tell. So he simply replied, "We're traveling to China for a while. Be patient, when I return, we'll sit down and talk properly."
Dr. Adrian didn't argue. He just replied, "Alright."
As usual, Yibo parked his car a little distance away from Zhan's house. He knew there was little chance he'd see Zhan or the kids, but today… he felt like he had enough, he couldn't stay away anymore. He shut off the car, locked it, and got out.
For a few moments, he stood still, eyes fixed on the house, before walking toward it with quiet determination and a heart full of longing. He was tired of this. Even if he was at fault for walking away when he shouldn't have, wasn't it time they eased up on him? At least let him see his children?.
Inside, Zhan was in the kitchen cooking dinner. He wore a light, sleeveless shirt made of soft material. His dark, neatly styled hair peeked out from under a loose cap.
In the sitting room, only Jiangji and Ao were present, engrossed in watching cartoons. Jianghu, Niu, and Surui were in the backyard, washing their underwear, a routine they were already used to. Niu stood nearby, supervising and correcting them whenever they made a mistake.
Jiangji and Ao were so focused on the cartoon that neither noticed the sound of the doorbell ringing. Just then, Aunt Anu walked out of her room, still holding her phone to her ear. She finished her call, lowering the phone, and with mild irritation, turned to Ao.
"Seriously? You hear the bell ringing and neither of you gets up to answer? Whoever it is has probably been standing there for ages." She headed for the door.
"Sorry, Momma," Ao mumbled, adjusting his seat, his eyes still glued to the screen.
Aunt Anu opened the door, and her eyes landed on Yibo standing tall and composed. His confident posture, his healthy appearance, and his striking features were impossible to miss.

She didn't need anyone to explain who he was. A single glance was enough....the resemblance between him and Jianghu was undeniable. Even without an introduction, she could already guess who he was.
"Good evening, Aunt," Yibo greeted politely, slightly lowering his head in respect.
Aunt Anu frowned instinctively. She wanted to scold him, to unload the anger building inside her...but apart from her frown, she couldn't bring herself to speak harshly. His commanding presence filled the space, and his intense gaze made it hard to hold her ground. Zhan must have been putting in serious effort to stand his ground against someone like this. Yibo exuded a dominant aura that made people hesitate to challenge him, let alone speak harshly to him.
Summoning her composure, Aunt Anu finally asked, "Yes… is everything alright?"
Yibo hadn't expected the question, especially with the way she stared at him. But maybe she truly didn't know who he was. So, with measured calmness, he replied, "I came to see the twins… if it's not too much trouble, I'd really appreciate the chance to see them."
He held her gaze, silently hoping for a little mercy.
Aunt Anu fell silent for a moment, as if lost in thought. She wanted to tell him no, she wanted to say the words that were on the tip of her tongue, but his overwhelming presence made it hard for her. In the end, she found herself simply turning around and walking back inside, her voice low but clear as she muttered,
"Come in."
Anyone could tell something beyond her control had forced her to say those words.
Yibo exhaled heavily, pressing a hand lightly to his chest as he closed his eyes for a second, whispering to himself,
"That's a start."
Composed, he followed her inside.
Aunt Anu reached the sitting room first and quickly sent Ao to call Jianghu, instructing him to bring some drinks to the sitting room as well. After that, she quietly retreated to her bedroom.
The first person Yibo laid eyes on was Jiangji. He couldn't sit down, his heart racing as if he had seen something terrifying. His gaze locked onto the boy, who remained oblivious to everything, eyes still fixed on the cartoon playing on the TV. But suddenly, as if sensing something, Jiangji turned his head toward Yibo.
Their eyes met. For a few long seconds, Jiangji stared at him curiously, then broke into a soft smile.
"Good afternoon, uncle," the boy greeted politely.
Yibo returned the smile, extending his hand toward him as a signal to come over. Jiangji hesitated for a moment, watching him thoughtfully, then stood up and cautiously approached.
As soon as he got close enough, Yibo gently pulled him into his arms, hugging him tightly. A wave of emotions swirled through him, his heart overwhelmed with a love so intense it startled him. He didn't need anyone to tell him....the boy was Zhan's exact copy. Despite spotting traces of himself too, the resemblance to Zhan was undeniable.
"Heyyyy…" came a voice from nearby, pulling Yibo back to reality. He turned to find Jianghu standing close by, staring at him in shock....at someone who looked so much like himself.
Yibo let out a gentle laugh, his eyes misting with unshed tears. He reached out a hand to Jianghu as well, but the boy hesitated, stepping back slightly, his distrust obvious.
From his seat on Yibo's lap, Jiangji spoke cheerfully, "Come on, brother, this uncle says he's our Daddy."
"Daddy?" Jianghu repeated, wide-eyed with curiosity and excitement. It was a word he had longed to hear. In his class, every child talked about their mom and dad, but for him, it had only ever been 'Mom/Baaba.' The idea filled him with joy, and before long, he was rushing toward them too.
Yibo embraced them both, pulling them close, tears escaping as he softly stroked their heads and kissing their entire faces. A profound happiness washed over him....a deep, painful weight he had carried for eight long years finally began to loosen, melting away.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Ao had entered as Zhan was prepping a salad. He headed toward the cupboard to fetch cups and glasses. Zhan glanced at him,
"What are you doing with those?"
"Momma said there's a guest. I should take water to him."
Zhan grabbed the cups from him and swapped them out with better ones,
"And you thought carrying those dirty cups was okay?"
He set everything properly on the tray and handed it to Ao. But before Ao could even reach the door, his foot slipped on the smooth tiles, sending the tray clattering. Luckily, nothing broke, and no one was hurt.
Zhan rushed over, "Careful, Ao! Are you okay? Don't forget, you can't be clumsy when Momma sends you. Here....give me the tray. I'll take it myself."
Taking the tray, Zhan headed for the sitting room, planning to deliver the drinks before returning to finish dinner.
It never crossed his mind that the guest could be a man. He was certain Aunt Anu wouldn't invite a man over when Papa wasn't around. Besides, the possibility that the man waiting in the sitting room could be Prince Yibo himself? That thought had never, even for a moment, occurred to him.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛