At night, Min was in her room with her friends and cousins, chatting away. She had just finished her beauty treatment, and it had really enhanced her look...she looked like a glowing bride-to-be. Her voice dominated the room, full of energy and excitement, like she wasn't even the bride. Their house was bustling with guests who had come for her wedding, and you could clearly tell she was in an uncontainable state of joy, tossing her head with playful charm.
One of her friends, Antu, asked, "So what's the plan for the outfit you'll wear at the reception on Saturday? I know you said it doesn't feel right, but honestly, it looks amazing."
Min scrunched her face a bit and replied, "Baby said to forget about that one...we'll go buy a ready-made outfit instead. So tomorrow, if everything goes well, he'll come pick me up early and we'll go shopping."
Antu chimed in, "That's going to cost a fortune…"
Min laughed lightly, "Yes, but we can afford it."
Her 39-year-old cousin, Jian Mia, spoke up, "Back in the day, this would be unheard of. Imagine going shopping with your groom the day before the wedding. We used to stop meeting at least two to three weeks before the big day, only seeing each other again in your new home. But nowadays, girls don't even care.... they have no shame."
Min didn't even bother to look at her, ignoring her entirely. Her cousin was known for her outdated opinions, always acting like she knew better...even though she had never been married herself. Antu handed Min her ringing phone. Seeing that it was Shu calling, Min stepped out of the room, shut the door behind her, and lowered her voice.
"Hey Shu, what's the update?"
Shu replied, "That's what I should be asking you. I've been waiting for some news but haven't heard anything. Don't tell me you didn't make it to the market?"
Min sighed, "I remembered only after you left. Honestly, it was hard to leave the house...don't forget the wedding's in two days. But I spoke to my customer and he agreed to come pick it up from the house tomorrow morning. Once he gets here, I'll figure out a way to slip it to him at the gate."
Shu didn't sound pleased. "Min, your house is already getting crowded with guests. I hope there won't be a problem. And you know I won't be okay with anything going wrong, right?"
Min reassured her, "Relax, I've got the gold watch in my purse right here tucked under my arm...I'm not letting it out of my sight for even a second. I know how valuable it is."
Shu said, "Please, just hold onto it until he gets there and picks it up. That's the only way I'll be at ease."
Min replied, "Don't worry. He said he'll come with a scale and weigh it in front of me. Once he tells me the price, I'll call you so you can send the account number."
"Alright, thanks," Shu said, and they ended the call. Min returned to her room.
Yibo walked into Lan Yi's room and greeted her. "I'm here, Mama."
Lan Yi said, "Check your WhatsApp... I sent you a photo of the gold watch. Please help me check the shops for it if you can…"
Yibo quickly cut her off. "Mama, how? I don't even go to the market, and I know nothing about gold. That's more of a women's thing."
Lan Yi sighed. "Alright. Jianmen said she'll check the market tomorrow. It's just… I only have 3.5 million in my account. I was wondering... if it's not too much trouble...could you lend me 1 million? I promise I'll return it soon. If I can get that, the rest will fall into place. I really don't want your dad to know about this situation...it's embarrassing for me. But I know he'd give me the money if I asked. As for Hai Kuan, I just don't want any drama from him. He always escalates things, and it becomes a whole issue. So please help me, Yibo. I know you've spent a lot recently, but I'd really appreciate it."
Yibo looked at her, already suspecting that this was the real reason she had called him in. He'd known she wasn't interested in market talk...she just wanted to get to the point, and this was her way of easing into it. He really didn't like seeing his mother stressed.
"Alright, Mama. I'll send it. Everything will be fine."
Lan Yi smiled. "Thank you, Yibo. May good things come to you. I hope your kids treat you the way you treat me. May your doors always stay open."
Yibo didn't stay long in the room before leaving.
***
The next day, Friday, at 9:30 AM, Yibo left for Min's house to take her shopping for her reception outfit since she didn't like the first one. He waited almost twenty minutes in the car before she finally came out and slid into the front seat, giving him a blushing smile.
"Good morning, Sweedy," she said sweetly.
He leaned his head against the car seat and replied, "I told you I had somewhere to be. You've wasted my time, Madam."
She tilted her head playfully. "Come on, the bride is never wrong, Baby. Have you forgotten?"
He started the car, and they left her street. She directed him to an extremely pricey boutique to pick up the ready-made outfit she had already selected on Instagram. All she needed now was to try it on for any final adjustments. Yibo didn't say anything as they entered the lounge. After a few minutes, they were attended to. The dress they brought out for her was stunning... expensive-looking even at a glance. She took it with a smile and was led to the fitting area.
Yibo exhaled deeply. In his mind, he thought, If this thing costs more than 500K to 1M, it's not happening. He took a sip from the bottle of water provided for them and waited.
Min's phone began to vibrate inside her purse next to him. He glanced at the bag but didn't touch it. The phone kept ringing....four times. Finally, curiosity got the better of him. He pulled the bag closer and took out her phone. As he did, he noticed something shiny....a luxury wristwatch gleaming inside the bag. He pulled it out with slight surprise and examined the gold watch.
At that moment, Min's phone rang again.....it was Shu calling. Still holding the gold watch in one hand, he checked his own phone, opened WhatsApp, and downloaded the image Lan Yi had sent him the day before.
He was stunned.
The watch in his hand was exactly the same as the one in the photo. The only difference was that the one in the picture was still in its case, while the one he held was loose. Realizing something was off, he quickly put her phone back into her purse, returned the bag to its spot, and began thinking about what to do.
He quietly slipped the gold watch into his pocket, knowing full well it was visible in the way his pants creased. Then he stood up, held his phone to his ear as if making a call, and stepped outside. He went to his car, opened the door, and stashed the watch inside, then returned to the lounge like nothing happened.
A few minutes later, Min walked out beaming. "Baby, transfer the 2.5 million so we can go. I know the pedicure team is waiting for me...I told them I'd get it done the day before the wedding so my feet will stay fresh till I move into your house."
Yibo gave her a smile and said, "That's thoughtful of you. So, the dress suits you?"
Min sat beside him and replied warmly, "Sure, dear. I love it so much."
He immediately made the transfer, and after the payment was confirmed, the staff handed her the package. They walked out together, Min hanging onto her handbag.
Yibo drove her home directly, saying he was in a hurry and people were waiting for him. After dropping her off, he reversed and left the street. As soon as Min entered the gate, she pulled out her phone and widened her eyes....she'd missed five calls from Shu. She quickly dialed the gold vendor and said, "Come on, Han! I've been waiting on you for a while now."
"I'm on the way," he responded casually.
"Alright, just hurry," she replied.
She then called Shu and said, "Thanks for being patient. I just called him....he's on his way now. You know they rarely come to the market early. Please calm down; I'll call you as soon as he arrives."
Shu responded, clearly stressed, "He better hurry, Min. There's someone I need to pay 200k, and he's been driving me crazy threatening to expose me."
Min said, "Don't worry, he'll be here in a few minutes. As soon as he checks it, I'll send the money. You've already given me your account details, so just hang in there, Bestie."
They ended the call, and Min rushed inside to show her friends the classy and unique dinner dress she'd bought. But she couldn't help being surprised that Yibo paid for it so quickly without even questioning the cost. He was never one for fake appearances, so she figured he must really know what he's getting in return.....no wonder he paid without hesitation.
Min didn't start her pedicure because Han was on his way. Around noon, he called to say he'd arrived. She picked up her handbag and quietly slipped out of the house without anyone noticing. When she reached him, she opened her bag to take out the gold watch....only to find it missing.
At first, she thought she was imagining things. She blinked and checked again....still gone. Her heart raced as sweat broke out on her forehead. "Han, please check the bag for me. The gold watch is inside. I can't seem to find it," she said, handing her bag to him, panic in her eyes.
Han gave the bag back quickly. "You didn't see it in your own bag, but now you want me to find it? Come on."
Min began dumping everything from her bag right there on the street, visibly frantic, but there was no sign of the gold watch. Then she cried out in despair, "Oh no… I'm ruined. What will I tell Shu?"
Han shook his head. "Honestly, you've wasted my time. You should have checked before calling me. I left my customers waiting, and this place isn't even close. I need to get back to the market. Call me later if anything changes."
With that, he revved up his bike and left.
Min nearly lost control right there in the street. Her body shook from anxiety. She managed to rush into the house and duck into the visitors' toilet in the compound. After relieving herself, she went to the backyard and sat down, overwhelmed with stress. Sweat dripped from her face. She couldn't make a scene or raise an alarm...if her mother found out, everything would fall apart.
Earlier, before leaving with Yibo, she had checked the bag and confirmed the watch was in there. Since coming back, she hadn't left the bag anywhere unattended. Could it have been stolen while she was trying on the dress? Was it taken at the boutique?
Finally, she broke down, crying uncontrollably. Holding her head in her hands, she said in anguish, "I'm finished. What am I going to tell Shu?"
Meanwhile, Lan Yi sat frozen, staring at the watch Yibo had left on the bed. Aunt Marquis stood up abruptly, alarmed. "Where did you get this from, Yibo?"
He didn't respond at first, leaning against the wall with his arms folded, watching them.
Lan Yi looked at him and asked again, "Yibo, where did this come from? Did you buy it?"
He replied, "It's not new. You already know it."
Lan Yi's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean?"
Yibo hesitated, trying to think of something to say. He didn't want to throw Min under the bus and cause his mother to doubt her. He had to cover for her somehow.
Aunt Marquis frowned. "Can you just tell us already? Where did you get this?"
Scratching his head, he finally said, "It's the same one Shu stole. She gave it to Min to hold onto. Today, when I went to her place, Min handed it to me, saying Shu gave it to her for safekeeping."
Lan Yi held her head in distress. Aunt Marquis stood there, mouth open in shock. Yibo quietly left the room.
Lan Yi started to cry silently, shaking her head, unable to say anything. Aunt Marquis eventually picked up the gold watch and stored it somewhere safe where no one would think to look. Then she too left the room.
✨✨✨
Wu was seated in the upstairs sitting room with her ex-husband's five male relatives. Uncle Chengfeng spoke first, saying, "Wu, with your maturity and wisdom, it's not right for you to go back and forth with Jin like that. That's why we brought you up here... to have a calm and reasonable discussion."
Wu, however, was staring in another direction, her heart burning with frustration. Uncle Chengfeng asked, "Be honest with us, Wu. What exactly do you know about that house Kexing is trying to marry into?"
Wu replied, "Oh, so now they're considered family, and I should know everything about them? Chengfeng, the same way this information reached you from the top is how it reached me too. Just like you received an envelope, so did I. And from what I can tell, no one is planning to live with Kexing and that boy. Whatever the case, if he says he knows what he wants and he's fine with it, I think we should let him be. He's old enough to make decisions for himself. He received the same letter before any of you, and he wasn't bothered."
Uncle Yiping, looking downward, added, "This is a serious marriage, how could he just open his mouth and say he 'knows and accepts'? And we're supposed to accept that? What you don't seem to understand is that he doesn't have the final say in this matter, not while we're still alive. He doesn't get to make such decisions on his own. If he didn't takes us his elders, tell us now, and we'll know how to proceed."
Wu gave him a sharp look but before she could respond, Uncle Chengfeng interrupted. "Let's put all that aside for a moment. This whole situation that seems tangled is actually quite simple. We're the ones who delivered the groom price, not anyone else. The easiest way forward is to go back to that house and get the truth from the parents of the boy who received the money. There's no need for any more back and forth.... this is the best alternative."
Wu snapped, "If I had known this was how you'd come here to upset me just because you think little of me… Well, I suggest you warn Jin and Ruma to stay out of my business. If they don't, I assure you it won't be long before the authorities handle this for me."
Uncle Zichen stood up and walked out of the room, and the others followed him, leaving only Uncle Chengfeng behind. He turned to Wu and said, "Please calm down, Madam. Whatever happen there, you'll be getting a call soon... or I'll come myself." With that, he stood up and left.
Meanwhile, Yibo's father, Qiren, was in the bedroom going through some documents. He had just returned from Hong Kong in preparation for his children's wedding the next day. Lan Yi walked in and said, "You have visitors."
Qiren looked up. "From where?"
"Yibo said they're relatives of the boy Dr. Kexing....they're the ones who brought the groom price," she answered.
Qiren set down his papers and said, "Alright. Let's hope they're not here to postpone the wedding."
Lan Yi replied, "If that's the best outcome, there's nothing we can do."
Qiren picked up his phone and stepped outside, heading toward the sitting room where the guests waited. As he entered, they exchanged greetings. Yibo came in and set down a carton of water and soft drinks. Qiren asked, "How are the preparations going?"
They all replied, "Everything is fine. Thank you."
Qiren said, "Good to hear."
Uncle Chengfeng then spoke. "Actually, Mr. Wang, we came here to discuss something important. But we'd like you to be understanding. If you were in our shoes, you'd probably do the same."
Qiren paused and said, "Alright, I'm listening. I hope all is well."
Yibo, who had been about to leave the room, stopped in his tracks at the tone in Uncle Yiping's voice. Something didn't feel right. Uncle Yiping pulled a document from his pocket and handed it to Qiren. Uncle Chengfeng and Uncle Zichen did the same. Qiren took the papers, visibly confused.
"What's all this?" he asked.
Uncle Chengfeng replied, "These were delivered to our homes yesterday evening. Please take a look."
Qiren hesitated for a moment, then began reading through the documents carefully, one by one. After finishing, he placed them beside him, looked up at Dr. Kexing 's uncles, and leaned back in his seat, doing his best to stay composed.
He finally said, "Everything written here is true... except for one or two points."
Uncle Yiping interjected, "That doesn't matter to us, Mr. Wang. The fact is, you didn't follow the proper process when giving out the boy's hand in marriage. You knew about a serious underlying issue and still went ahead. We were deceived and treated like fools. This whole marriage plan was built on dishonesty. In matters like this, there's no room for half-truths. So we've decided to withdraw from the wedding that was supposed to happen tomorrow. We'll send someone to retrieve the groom price and other items given to this household. That's our duty as parents....to protect our child in situations like this. Goodbye, Mr. Wang."
Qiren was left speechless as they all stood and walked out. Yibo, stunned by what he'd heard, picked up the documents and started scanning them. He turned to Qiren, dropped to his knees, his voice trembling.
"Baba, what is this? What's going on??"
Qiren couldn't bring himself to respond. Yibo grew increasingly desperate despite the air-conditioned room.
"Please, say something! I'm losing it...I can't handle this anymore. What's going on?!"
Qiren finally looked at him. After a few seconds, he spoke calmly.
"It's true… Zhan isn't our biological son, Yibo. Neither Lan Yi nor I gave birth to him. We don't even know how he came into our lives. We just…"
He trailed off.
Yibo stared at him, stunned, like he was seeing his father for the first time. It felt like a dream. After almost three minutes of silence, Yibo managed to stand up, his voice cracking.
"If Zhan isn't your son… then who are Hai Kuan, Lee and I? Who are our real parents too?"
Without waiting for an answer, he stormed out of the room. Qiren sat there, unable to say a word.
Meanwhile, Zhan sat upright in his room, watching Ji Li busy with his things. His phone was at his ear, talking to Dr. Kexing, who had just called.
After a moment, he said quietly, "I'll call you back. I'm not alone."
He hung up and stepped into the corridor. Once there, he redialed Dr. Kexing.
"I can't come out right now," he whispered. "There are people everywhere in the house. I'll be noticed."
Dr. Kexing replied, "Please, Zhan, find a way to come out. It's urgent."
Zhan couldn't resist the urgency in his voice. He asked worriedly, "Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not."
"Alright… you said you're at the entrance to our street?"
"Yes."
"I'll be right there."
Zhan hung up and began strategizing how to slip out unnoticed. Eventually, he succeeded...disguised in a face mask...and even Ji Li didn't realize he'd left. He found Dr. Kexing's parked car, got in the front seat, and gave him a worried look. Before he could say anything, Dr. Kexing started driving.
"Sir, where are we going now?" Zhan asked in surprise.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛