Between Family And Self... Slow Burn Yizhan

Yibo was speechless, weak, and completely lost for words. He closed his eyes, listening to Zhan's sobs, feeling each one cut through his chest. Yet he didn't stop him; he wanted Zhan to cry, to let everything out, to feel some relief no matter how small.

They sat there for over ten minutes before Yibo gently lifted Zhan's chin and looked at him. "I'm sorry, Baby," he said softly. "Everything will be fine. You're still our little brother. We're still family, and you're not going anywhere. I know Mama isn't herself. She didn't mean those things she said."

Zhan simply nodded, tears streaming down his face as he looked at Yibo. Yibo wiped his tears gently and whispered, "That's not really Mama talking. I promise you."

Zhan just nodded again. Yibo helped him up, and they both walked back inside. The sitting room was empty, so they headed upstairs to Zhan's room.

Granny Ai was sitting there, stuffing bread and eggs into her mouth in quick bites, her suitcase beside her. Seeing Yibo, she said, "Once I'm done eating, take me to the station, Yibo. I can't stay here and watch this kind of wickedness. I'm going to Yantai. There's a man there who helps me with all kinds of spiritual protections....that's why you see me looking young and strong. Anyone who does me wrong always ends up suffering the consequences. I'll tell him everything that's happening so he can see what's gotten into my sister Yu Jie. Why is she doing all this? If I leave her like this, she's doomed for sure. It's better I look for help early. You can't tell me those harsh words from Lan Yi were really hers....someone must have been poisoning her mind. And who else could it be but Yu Jie and that troublesome granddaughter of hers, Shu? I'll do whatever it takes to save her before it's too late. She's my sister, same father, same mother."

Yibo said nothing to Granny Ai. He helped Zhan sit on the bed and told him softly, "Wait here for me."

Zhan nodded, still watching him, while Yibo left and locked the door from outside.

Granny Ai put down her bread and started crying. "So that's why I told him let's take to Yantai, and he said you have exams. As if you can't take exams in Yantai too? Those exams are nothing... you need peace of mind to take them. Let them keep their precious exams and give them to you whenever you're back. I'll just finish eating, and we'll get money for transport. The spiritual master only comes to Yantai on Wednesdays and Fridays. He spends most of his time in Jing'an."

- - - - - - - -

Yibo sat quietly in the sitting room with Hai Kuan, both called there by Qiren. They had never seen their father this angry before....he was shaking, his voice booming as if he needed extra strength just to shout.

"If she wants to stay here with Zhan, fine! If she wants to pack her things and leave, fine! I don't care!" Qiren raged. "But she has no right to say Zhan can't stay in my house. I won't tolerate that nonsense again. I've kept quiet all this time, letting them do as they pleased just for the sake of peace.....not because I didn't know what I was doing. Now, no one is going to change how I run my house. Zhan will stay here as comfortably as he always has. If anyone has a problem with that, they can leave instead!"

Both Yibo and Hai Kuan stayed quiet.

The door opened and Lan Yi walked in. She had heard Qiren's words from her part of the house because he was shouting so loudly. She smiled coldly and said, "So now you're saying all those things to me in front of them all because of Zhan? Fine, Qiren. You and your children can live here with him. I'm leaving."

Qiren glared at her. "I never stopped you from leaving, so go wherever you want. Now I see clearly....you and your mother never liked the truth. If this is about Zhan, leave, but he stays because this is my house, not anyone else's!"

Lan Yi turned sharply and stormed out.

Yibo felt a sharp pain in his chest; Hai Kuan was equally stunned into silence. Qiren looked at Yibo sternly and said, "All of Zhan's things you took to your house....bring them back here."

In a low voice, Yibo said, "Baba, please calm down. This isn't as bad as it seems. Right now Zhan really needs peace of mind. His final exams are just two weeks away. I think it's better if he stays in the hostel so he can concentrate…"

He trailed off, struggling to find the right words that would make sense to Qiren. He didn't want Lan Yi to leave just because of Zhan, but this issue was growing into something bigger than expected.

"No!" Qiren snapped. "He stays in this house, not in a hostel. He's never needed one all these years, so why now?"

Hai Kuan exhaled sharply and spoke, "Baba, this is his final exam. He needs full concentration. With everything happening here, he won't have peace of mind. Please, just let him stay in the hostel until after the exams. It's only three weeks."

He said it because he had the same thought as Yibo...this situation didn't need to escalate further, and it wouldn't make sense for Lan Yi to leave the house because of Zhan.

Qiren said firmly, "I already said he's not staying in any hostel....he'll stay here and take his exams."

Everyone went silent, watching him as he turned and left for his room. Hai Kuan got up quietly and left the sitting room, while Yibo leaned back on the chair, eyes closed, completely lost in thought.

Slowly, Yibo opened Zhan's room door and stepped inside. He found Zhan standing still near the Window, while Granny Ai stood up sharply and said, "Why did you lock us inside like criminals and leave? And have you checked if this boy's mind is alright? I've been talking to him for a while now like someone talking to a statue. Honestly, it scared me."

Yibo took Zhan back to his own room and gently sat him down. Kneeling in front of him, he said softly, "Can you hear me, Baby?"

Zhan just stared at him in silence. Yibo continued, "Do you have any friend or coursemate staying at the hostel?"

Still silent, Zhan just looked at him. "Say something, Baby," Yibo urged. Zhan finally nodded.

Yibo stood up and said, "Baba will listen to you if you tell him yourself that you want to stay at the hostel for your final exams."

Together, Yibo and Zhan went to the sitting room where Hai Kuan was already trying to convince Qiren to let Zhan move to the hostel until after his exams. Qiren, however, was adamant. "And no one should bring up the hostel again," he said sharply.

Only then did Zhan finally speak up, his voice quiet and hesitant. "Baba, I really want to stay there for my exams. Most of my coursemates are also moving back to the hostel until the finals. I'll be able to concentrate better there."

~**~

Later that evening, Yibo drove Zhan to the hostel near his school, taking advantage of Qiren being out of the house. Ever since Lan Yi had left home that morning, Yibo had been restless. He didn't want things to escalate further.

Zhan would be staying with the younger brother of one of Yibo's colleagues at work, a second-year student. Yibo carried all Zhan's things into the room while Zhan arranged them. Watching him from the car, Yibo felt a deep ache in his chest. He wished he could erase this painful moment for him.

When Zhan came back to get his backpack, Yibo called softly, "Baby."

Zhan didn't look at him, and Yibo noticed the tears clinging to his eyes. He gently pulled him close to the car. "Baby, I trust you. That's why I brought you here. I know you'll spend all your time focusing on your exams because these four years mean everything right now. Please don't break that trust. Don't let your emotions push you into doing anything you shouldn't. Mama and Baba are still your parents, and we are your brothers. This will all pass soon. Forget everything else and focus on your exams. Make them proud. We barely managed to convince Baba to let you come here, so if anything happens, he'll blame us. Just focus, alright? And if you need anything, call me. Hai Kuan ge is on his way with your groceries."

Almost as he finished speaking, Hai Kuan's car pulled up. After parking, he came over, carrying bags of food, including all of Zhan's favorites like snacks and drinks.

"Is anything missing?" Hai Kuan asked.

Zhan shook his head. "No, everything's fine."

"Good. If you need anything else, just call me," Hai Kuan said.

"Thank you," Zhan replied quietly.

Hai Kuan left, and Yibo remained there until nearly six in the evening before finally driving off.

He then headed to Granny Fang Yu's house. After parking at the gate, he stood for a moment, hesitant, unsure what he might find inside. Finally, he walked into the sitting room.

Granny Fang Yu was seated with Shu lying on a mat next to her, and Min was making tea. Lan Yi sat on a couch, but when she saw Yibo, her face hardened immediately.

Yibo quietly greeted, "Good evening, Granny Fang Yu."

"Evening," she replied shortly.

"How's she feeling?" he asked, glancing at Shu.

Granny Fang Yu ignored him. Min greeted politely, "Good evening."

"Evening," Yibo replied, before turning toward Lan Yi. "Good evening, Mama," he said softly.

Lan Yi stood without a word and left for Granny Fang Yu's room, locking the door behind her. Granny Fang Yu made a clicking sound with her tongue and kept fanning Shu while Min handed her the tea. "Let me inside, Granny," Min said politely.

"Alright, my dear," Granny Fang Yu replied.

Min smiled lightly and left for the room.

Lowering his voice, Yibo said, "Please, Granny, forgive all that has happened. It's all just heated tempers, nothing more."

Granny Fang Yu frowned deeply. "Oh, don't you dare tell me it's nothing! That boy Zhan is trouble, pure trouble. Because of him, your parents have fought like never before. You even divorced your wife barely weeks into marriage because of him. And look at your sister, Shu, lying here because of him. If I had known things would turn out like this, I'd never have let Lan Yi take him in. If I had known the future, I'd have never allowed him into this family at all!"

Yibo felt terrible about the accusations Granny Fang Yu was throwing at Zhan. His chest tightened with anger, but he kept calm and said, "What happened has already happened, Granny Fang Yu. Besides, Baby isn't even at the house anymore...Baba sent him to stay at Uncle Lang's place after seeing how upset Mama was. So, please, can you convince Mama to return home?"

Granny Fang Yu frowned. "Your father insulted her in front of her own daughter in-law, and you expect me to defend him? We took Zhan in with good intentions, and now look what has happened! And you dare say Zhan isn't planned to distroyed my family in the first place? Even your mother stood by him over her own family!"

Yibo sighed. "Granny, that's all in the past now. Please, just talk to Mama so she can come back home."

"Why should I apologize to her?" Granny Fang Yu retorted.

Yibo fell silent, then quietly stood up and walked to the room where Lan Yi had locked herself in. He tried the door but found it locked, so he went back to the sitting room and sat down heavily, feeling helpless.

"There's nothing you can say to her now that she'll listen to," Granny Fang Yu said. "Just take your wife home and wait until morning."

"Please, Granny, just try again to calm her down. I'll come back early tomorrow morning," Yibo said softly.

"Take your wife home. Leave us to handle what we need to handle," Granny Fang Yu said firmly as she rose to call Min, who had been in one of the rooms.

Min came out, and Yibo approached Shu, who was lying down, and asked, "How are you feeling now?"

Shu pretended to be asleep, ignoring him. He turned to Granny Fang Yu. "Should i take her to my house so I can monitor her condition until she recovers?"

Min quickly looked at him in surprise, but Granny Fang Yu snapped, "What would she do in your house, Yibo? It's going to be the same house where this whole mess started! Are you trying to finish what your useless brother began and have her killed?"

Yibo's voice dropped low. "Granny, please don't say that. I only suggested it for her health."

Shu, who had been listening quietly, sat up with a wince and said, "I'll go."

"Can you even walk properly?" Granny Fang Yu asked sharply.

"I'll manage," Shu muttered.

She didn't really want to stay; she needed privacy so she could call the man Min had given her a number for. With Lan Yi occupying the spare room, Shu couldn't have a private conversation, and she hadn't called him since the incident. She was in pain...her legs hurt so badly that even though the doctors said there were no fractures, it felt like her bones were broken. One of her arms was bandaged from a dislocation and hurt so much that she couldn't use it. Still, she stubbornly said, "Granny, pack me three sets of clothes."

"You're not going anywhere," Granny Fang Yu snapped. "Do you have no shame? Even after what happened, you still want to go back to Yibo's house?"

Shu glared and said, "Why does it concern you so much, Granny? If you don't want to pack my clothes, I'll do it myself."

Min stood silently, not wanting to take sides. Granny Fang Yu muttered, "Fine, don't say I didn't warn you. I just wanted to take care of you properly."

She went into Shu's room and came out with a small bag. Yibo took it and said gently, "Can you stand now?"

Shu stood with difficulty, wincing in pain as Yibo held her hand and led her to the door. "Goodnight, Granny," he said softly.

Granny Fang Yu said nothing, her expression hard. She hated the idea of Shu going back to Yibo's house but couldn't stop her.

Min quietly said goodnight to Granny Fang Yu and followed them, her face unreadable. Yibo opened the back seat, helping Shu settle in with effort. She groaned softly from the pain. He placed her bag in the trunk, and Min got into the front passenger seat. They drove off.

After some silence, Yibo asked, "What would you like to eat, Shu?"

Lying in the back like a child, she whimpered, "I don't really feel like eating."

"Then I'll get you some chicken and fresh milk....maybe it'll improve your appetite," Yibo said.

Min glanced at him but said nothing. Yibo stopped at a small shop and stall, bought the milk, and returned with a single bag. As soon as he opened the back door, the smell of roasted chicken filled the car.

When they arrived home, he parked at the gate. Min expected he would also buy something for them, but he didn't. He helped Shu out, carrying her food and bag inside. Min trailed behind them, still quiet and stiff.

Yibo opened a spare room, one Zhan hadn't used, and settled Shu there. Min went to her own room and sat on her bed, pulling off her veil because of the heat. She couldn't sit still and soon came out, only to see Yibo leaving Shu's room carrying a plate and cup. Without a word, he walked out of the house entirely.

He got into his car and drove straight to Zhan's hostel, his mind fixed on him since earlier. On the way, he bought cold drinks and Zhan's favorite chicken.

When he arrived, he noticed Hai Kuan's car already parked at the hostel gate. Zhan was sitting on a bench with Hai Kuan, who was scrolling through his phone. Since arriving after seven, Hai Kuan hadn't spoken much, just checking his messages now and then, occasionally glancing at Zhan.

Zhan, lost in thought, finally lifted his head and saw Yibo's car parked.

Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛