Chapter 37

Fen was transferred back to jail, where she was sentenced to several years due to the overwhelming evidence against her, including testimonies from Min and Zhan. A few weeks later, she died in prison from internal injuries caused by the fire at her house—a humiliating and tragic end that no one could look upon without pity.

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Qian and her family were left with nothing significant after Shi Lei's remaining wealth was distributed. Despite the financial help she occasionally received from Yibo, neither her life nor that of her children ever returned to normal.

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Ning and Hao had a joint wedding, and afterward, Hao took his bride, Nalan, to Shenzhen, where Shan Tunan had secured a job for him.

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Min abandoned all the reckless paths she had once taken, especially after learning that her ex-boyfriend had found a job in Guangzhou, gotten married, and moved there with his wife. In secret, she also sought medical treatment after a hospital visit confirmed what she had once overheard—the issue with her reproductive system was real, just as the man who took her to India had said.

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Mama and Ma Jing put aside all past grudges and reconciled so completely that no one would have believed they had ever been at odds.

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Zhao Min made an effort to rebuild a strong bond with Zhan over time. More often than not, the two of them sought to fill the gaps in their relationship caused by years of distance.

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Guri married one of Yibo's colleagues, Barrosa, after spending some time at Zhan's home. Their wedding was a grand affair, held in both Beijing and Shenzhen, as Barrosa had a twin brother, Borosha. The two brothers decided to have a joint celebration, making the event even more remarkable.

By this time, Zhan had returned to college, pursuing a degree in graphic design—a field he had always dreamed of mastering. He and Yibo had already agreed that once he graduated, they would find a surrogate mothers. Both of them would contribute sperm to start building the family they had always wanted.

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Zhan's house was in complete disarray. Beyond the constant movement of people everywhere, their belongings were scattered across the place, and the noise of preparations filled the air. The household was busy getting ready for the gathering hosted by Guri's husband's relatives that evening. Almost everyone in the house was a relative of Zhao Min from Guangzhou.

They had arrived two days ago from Guangzhou after finishing their part of the wedding celebrations there. Since Zhan couldn't attend due to his studies, he was now the host in Beijing.

By tomorrow, all the festivities would come to an end. The actual wedding ceremony had taken place first in Guangzhou before anything else even began. But ever since their arrival yesterday, Zhan had been feeling exhausted. He had been on his feet non-stop, attending to everyone's needs. As the host, nearly every question, request, or task...big or small...fell on him.

"Zhan, do you have a large tray to serve food for all the kids at once?"

A woman called out to him as he passed through the sitting room. He had just come from his room after searching for the exact scarf Zhao Min wanted to match her outfit. It was only after she had gotten dressed that she realized she had forgotten to bring it.

"Yes, I do. If you check the storage room, on the left side of the drawer, you'll find it. But make sure to wash it well first—I've never used it before," Zhan replied as he reached the door of the room where Zhao Min and her relatives were getting ready.

Inside, everyone was busy preparing, teasing Zhao Min about how she should have gone to the beauty salon with Guri and her friends instead of simply applying some powder and eyeliner at home.

"Maa, does this one work?"

Zhan held up the scarf to compare it with her outfit.

"Oh, absolutely! It matches so well," Zhao Min said, nodding in approval. "See how the orange shade blends perfectly with the rest of the outfit?"

"That's exactly why I thought of it and decided to bring it for you," Zhan said with a small smile.

"This one is even better than the yellow scarf you originally bought," Aunty Muxi added.

"You're right! It looks much better than mine. I should've gotten this color too," Zhao Min agreed.

"Then just take this one instead," Zhan said, handing it to her.

The amused look Zhao Min gave him made Zhan laugh as he turned to leave the room. Just as he stepped out, his phone rang. The caller ID flashed Yibo's name.

Oh, shit.

Zhan had completely forgotten—Yibo had called nearly fifteen minutes ago, asking him to bring over a pair of shoes he had left in his room.

Zhan didn't pick up the call. Instead, he headed straight to his room, where a few makeup artists were busy getting Guri's friends and relatives ready. Guri herself had gone elsewhere with just two people to have her makeup done separately.

Zhan grabbed the shoes and made his way toward Yibo's room. Since the door connecting the house from inside was locked, he had to step outside and go around to enter through the exterior door.

The room appeared empty at first, but just as Zhan stepped inside, he suddenly felt someone behind him. Before he could react, Yibo wrapped his arms around Zhan from behind, pulling him close against his chest.

Zhan burst into laughter, swatting at Yibo's hands before setting the shoes down.

"You scared me! My heart actually skipped a beat…"

"Oh?" Yibo smirked, glancing down. "Where did it fall? Should we look for it?"

Zhan laughed again, shaking his head as Yibo playfully guided him toward the mirror. That's when Zhan finally got a good look at him. Yibo was fully dressed, his outfit a sleek shade of ash gray that complemented his glowing complexion. The fresh haircut he had gotten for the wedding, alongside the groom, made his sharp features stand out even more.

Zhan glanced at himself as well. He hadn't checked his reflection since he got dressed. A makeup artist had touched up his face earlier, and though he hadn't seen the result, he looked good—his dark, kohl-lined eyes hiding the slight puffiness from his lack of sleep. He looked much better than he had on previous days.

"Someone's looking handsome."

Yibo teased, gently flicking Zhan's nose with his fingertip. Zhan chuckled as Yibo kissed the exposed skin on his neck, and a shiver ran through his body.

"But these people are exhausting you too much," Yibo sighed, his voice turning serious. "I should write it on your forehead....'Let my husband rest!'"

Zhan laughed again, pushing him away.

"I'm not even doing much. Just walking around the house. And even that counts as exercise!"

He turned fully to face Yibo, no longer looking through the mirror, and admired how well the outfit suited him. Then, without a word, Zhan grabbed a tie from the bed and stepped closer to put it on Yibo.

"Ah, so you want to take a better look at me, huh?"

Yibo grinned, watching Zhan's amused expression as he adjusted the tie and straightened his collar.

"Now, how do I look?" Yibo asked, raising an eyebrow.

Zhan let out another burst of laughter and held up two fingers in approval. The bracelets on his wrist jingled as he moved his hand.

"Hot!"

"That's what I like to hear!" Yibo laughed too, stepping closer and pulling Zhan into his arms again. This time, Zhan's feet lifted slightly off the ground to land on Yibo's own feet, forcing him to hold onto Yibo's neck for balance.

Noticing Yibo's face inching closer, Zhan's eyes widened.

"Wang Yibo… what are you planning to do?" he whispered. "Or did you forget that this house is full of people?"

Yibo shook his head and rubbed his ear.

"Don't worry. If I had any intention... I will sneak into the house to take you away, and I would have done it since last night."

Zhan felt his legs weaken as a strange sensation shot through his body, from his stomach to his head. Before he could process it, Yibo leaned in and brushed a quick kiss against his lips, then spun him around to face the mirror again.

From his pocket, Yibo pulled out a small white box.

Even before he opened it, Zhan had already guessed what was inside....especially when Yibo reached up to remove the chain around his neck.

"Gege…"

"Shhhhhh…" Yibo hushed him, focusing on opening the box. Inside was a stunning silver necklace that gleamed under the room's lighting. Carefully, Yibo clasped it around Zhan's neck.

Zhan raised a hand, fingers tracing the cool metal as he stared at his reflection, unable to put his emotions into words.

"It's beautiful…" he murmured, trailing off, unsure of what else to say.

Yibo smiled, his fingers brushing against Zhan's as they both touched the chain.

"That's a relief. I actually brought two and had to choose between them. Even on the way here, I kept wondering if you would have liked the other one better."

Zhan turned to fully face him now.

"Why do you keep buying me things? Please, stop. It's too much…"

Before he could finish, Yibo silenced him with another kiss—gentle but lingering. When he pulled away, he whispered against Zhan's lips,

"Don't say that. Don't ever tell me to stop, because I won't. You're the only one I have in this world. You're the only person I can call mine. If I don't take care of you, then who will?"

Zhan stared at him for a few seconds before raising both hands, cupping Yibo's face.

"Thank you. Really, thank you so much."

Before Yibo could respond, Zhan's phone rang in his hand.

"It's Maa," he said, glancing at the screen before quickly letting go of Yibo to answer.

"Yes, Maa, I'm on my way."

He hung up and turned back to Yibo.

"We have to leave now." Then, after a brief pause, he raised an eyebrow. "What are you even still doing here? Shouldn't you be with Barrosa and the others?"

Yibo shrugged. "I told them I was coming to see my husband. Is that a crime?"

Zhan laughed, shaking his head as he made his way to the door.

"Xingan…"

At the familiar nickname, Zhan paused, hand on the door handle, and turned back to look at him.

"Didn't you forget something?"

Zhan frowned, confused. Yibo smirked and tapped his own lips.

Realizing what he meant, Zhan burst into laughter, quickly slipping out the door before Yibo could grab him.

"I'll catch you later!" Yibo called after him, grinning.

THE END....

Epilogue

Years later...

The house was never truly quiet anymore.

Not since the arrival of their two little tornadoes—one with Yibo's sharp, mischievous eyes and the other with Zhan's bright, expressive smile.

This morning was no different.

"Baba! Baba!" Their two-year-old daughter, Liu, came wobbling into the living room on unsteady legs, her tiny hands clutching a stuffed bunny. "Gege is mean!"

Yibo, who was in the middle of tying his tie, barely had time to react before Liu launched herself at him, demanding to be picked up. With a resigned chuckle, he scooped her into his arms.

Zhan followed in behind her, arms crossed as their three-year-old son, Xiao, trailed after him, pouting.

"I wasn't mean!" Xiao argued, furrowing his brows...an expression that looked a little too much like Yibo's when he was annoyed. "She took my car!"

"Mine," Liu huffed, clutching her bunny tighter, refusing to meet her brother's glare.

Zhan sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Every morning, it's like a war zone."

Yibo smiled, bouncing Liu slightly in his arms. "Well, she did inherit your stubbornness."

Zhan shot him a look. "Excuse me? Have you met yourself?"

Before Yibo could fire back, Liu suddenly reached for his face and squished his cheeks together with her tiny hands. "Baba funny," she declared, giggling.

Xiao, not wanting to be left out, quickly tugged at Zhan's pants leg. "Baba, up too!"

Zhan sighed but smiled, lifting Xiao into his arms. Their son immediately nuzzled into his shoulder, his small fingers playing with the fabric of Zhan's shirt.

For a moment, there was silence—just the four of them, holding each other.

Then, Liu gasped dramatically. "Breakfast?"

Yibo and Zhan exchanged glances before laughing.

"Yes, yes, little princess," Zhan said, kissing the top of her head before setting Xiao down. "Let's go eat before you and your brother start another war."

As the two toddlers ran off toward the dining table, still arguing about whose turn it was to pick the cereal, Yibo pulled Zhan back by the wrist.

Zhan arched a brow. "What?"

Yibo didn't answer. Instead, he leaned in and kissed him...slow, deep, full of love.

When he pulled away, he smirked. "Just needed to remind you...you're still my favorite."

Zhan rolled his eyes but couldn't stop the smile on his lips. "Lucky for you, you're still mine, too."

Hand in hand, they followed their children into the kitchen, where love, laughter, and a lifetime of happiness awaited.

Silent readers, the ones they commented I thank you all for your patience and support, love you all. ❤️❤️❤️

Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛