Chapter 69

Finally here we are, the end of the book, I will miss this story and your comments... At the same time I'm eager to finish it, becouse there's nothing to add to it😁. I can't write the whole character's end, the remainings I leave it to your imaginations... 😅😅

Aunty Yu, is busy roaming around Asia looking for a best witchcraft or native doctor in order to return to the Palace, 😂 Leo even I, don't know where he is😏 blah blah blah..... 😉

Zhan tried to compose himself as he left the room, but the embarrassment was too overwhelming. His cheeks still flushed, he moved swiftly down the hallway, hoping to escape unnoticed. Unfortunately for him, he ran straight into Tin, who was leaning against the wall with a mischievous grin.

"Whoa, slow down there," Tin teased, raising an eyebrow. "What's got you so flustered?"

Zhan stammered, looking everywhere but at Tin. "N-nothing! Just… I forgot something in the car."

"Right," Tin smirked, not buying it for a second. "Sure you're not running from us? Or maybe from YiBo himself?"

Zhan's face only reddened more, and he muttered, "I… really need to get that thing from the car." Before Tin could respond, Zhan slipped past her and practically sprinted out of the main living room.

Outside, he took a deep breath, the cool air calming him a bit. But peace didn't last long because, just as he thought he'd found a moment of solitude, YiBo appeared on the porch.

"Ah, there you are," YiBo said with a knowing smile. He sauntered over, leaning casually against the railing beside Zhan, clearly amused.

Zhan groaned inwardly, turning away. "Can you just… pretend the whole thing didn't happened?"

YiBo laughed, clearly enjoying Zhan's reaction. "Why should I? It's not every day I see you blush like that. I think it's pretty cute, actually."

Zhan shot him an irritated look, although the hint of a smile betrayed his amusement. "It's not funny! My words were… they were so embarrassing."

YiBo chuckled, reaching out to gently ruffle Zhan's hair. "That's just how it is. And honestly, you were the one who saved me from a worse lecture. So… thanks for that."

Zhan relaxed slightly, feeling the warmth of YiBo's touch. But still, he muttered, "I only did it because he looked ready annoyed. Next time, you're on your own."

YiBo's gaze softened. "Next time, huh? Does that mean you'll be around to keep getting me out of trouble?"

The question hung between them, and for a moment, they were both quiet, letting the weight of those words sink in. Zhan finally looked up, his cheeks no longer flushed with embarrassment but with a different kind of warmth.

"Guess I don't have much choice, do I?" he murmured, a shy smile breaking through.

YiBo broke the silence between them, saying, "My love, let's go inside; I need to talk to Mom." They turned together and headed toward Lily's wing. As soon as they stepped inside, Jian and Tian ran over to Zhan, pulling him toward the second living room.

Once they entered, they eagerly pointed at the large TV in the room. Tian picked up the remote, brought it to Zhan, and said, "Bun-Bun!"

Zhan's eyes widened, not quite sure what they meant. He picked up Jian, setting him on his lap, and Tian climbed up as well, still pointing at the TV. Zhan asked, "Do you want to watch cartoons?" Both boys nodded vigorously, adding, "Bun-Bun!" Confused about what "Bun-Bun" meant, Zhan looked around helplessly, just as Ru walked into the room.

"Thank goodness, Ru! Come here and see if you can figure out what they're asking for," he said.

With a chuckle, she replied, "Oh, they mean Rabbit Invention! And that's why they call you Bun-Bun too...they think you look like a man-bunny!" She laughed as she slipped into her mother's bedroom, leaving Zhan staring after her with a look of realization.

"So that's why you call me Bun-Bun, huh! you little rascals?" he said, grinning. Then, he started tickling them, making them laugh uncontrollably. Out of nowhere, both boys called out together, "Baba!"

Zhan froze for a moment, stunned. Pointing to himself in disbelief, he asked, "Did you just call me Baba?"

"Baba!" Jian repeated happily, and before he knew it, Zhan's eyes were filled with tears. He gathered both boys into a tight embrace, overwhelmed with a fresh wave of love and affection for them.

Meanwhile, YiBo was sitting with his Mom, who began the conversation before he could.

"YiBo, now that things are settling down and returning to normal, don't you think it's time Zhan goes back to University? He's delayed long enough. And the second thing... about the twins… keeping them with you right now may not be the best idea. You're the CEO, after all. Your workload will only increase, and you'll be traveling more often. Managing your time will be challenging, and when Zhan returns to University, he'll be just as busy."

"Neither of you will have much time for the twins," she continued. "And it's high time they start kindergarten so they can develop their language skills and socialize."

"Mom, we want to keep them with us, especially Zhan. He misses them deeply but just doesn't say it. I want us to bond with them too. They know I'm their father, but we haven't had the chance to build a real connection yet. They call me Daddy, but it feels…it's just for the sake of it. And it bothers me." He sighed. "I know I'm partly to blame for this...I didn't take care of them even before they were born".

"The day they were born, I didn't even see them because Dad locked me up. So much happened that kept us apart. Even when I returned, things kept pulling us away from each other."

His mother thought for a moment before suggesting, "Why don't you two move back into the Palace? You have your own wing with three bedrooms, two living rooms, a large kitchen, and a balcony. If that's not enough, we can renovate the area where Yu and her family stayed, and it has more security too…"

YiBo quickly interrupted, "I will never live in that part."

Lily laughed. "Okay, you don't have to. Your wing is more than enough for the two of you. Besides, with Yu's family gone, the Palace feels too big for just the four of us. And even when you're away, there are people here who can look after the twins. Plus, everyone will see them regularly, and they'll feel part of the family. Just talk to Zhan about it, okay?"

YiBo simply nodded.

***

2 Months Later

Over this time, Zhan and YiBo moved to live in Wang Palace with their twins, and Zhan returned to University, now able to focus fully on his studies.

Meanwhile, Tin got engaged to her boyfriend, whom she deeply loved, and Nia, who was finishing her masters second degree, started seeing a young brigadier general she'd known for over two years but had only recently made time for. He and his family were now prepared for a wedding anytime. Though she often stayed in touch with Zhan, she rarely thought of YiBo, who was busy with work in Shanghai.

At 5:30, YiBo returned home from work, thrilled to see his husband and sons. However, spotting Zhuo at their home again only confirmed his suspicions. Nearly every evening when he came home, he found Zhuo there, and now he was sure Zhuo came to visit Ru, not Zhan, though Zhuo tried to mask it by pretending he was just visiting a friend and brother. Zhan had already picked up on Zhuo's true reason for being there.

Shortly after seven, Zhuo left.

Ru brought her brother a herbal tea as he'd requested. Knocking, she entered the living room, where Zhan sat beside YiBo, who was holding Jian. YiBo looked at her and asked, "Zhuo's here for you, isn't he?"

Ru's eyes widened as she clutched her chest. "Me?" she exclaimed. Zhan just laughed at her flustered reaction, while YiBo shot her a pointed look and said, "Just leave with your hypocrisy." Lowering her head like a guilty person, she turned and headed toward the door, smiling.

That night, YiBo's desire for Zhan flared up again, and he barely let Zhan sleep, showing him just how much he'd missed him. Zhan, too, had longed for his husband, as it has been a long since they had any intimacy.

The next day, a Saturday, YiBo had the day off work. Around noon, he went shopping with Zhan, leaving Ru and the twins at home. Zhan gathered everything they would need, and after YiBo paid, the items were loaded into their car. Just as Zhan was about to get in, he heard someone calling his name. Turning around, he saw a man with a face mask approaching him quickly.

As the man got closer, he lowered the mask, but Zhan didn't recognize him at first. The man said, "Zhan, it's me." Only then did Zhan recognize the voice, and his eyes widened in shock. "Xin?" he said.

YiBo, who had already gotten into the driver's seat, watched them curiously. Xin removed the mask completely. "Yes, it's me, Zhan," he replied.

"What happened to you? Were you sick?" Zhan asked, alarmed.

Xin blinked a few times, then burst into quiet tears. "Yes, I've been unwell for a while, but I'm starting to feel better now; I can even get outside." Zhan studied him, shocked at how unkempt and frail he looked, noticing a terrible smell and a sickly pallor. He felt his heart sink as he asked softly, "And what about Zan Jin?"

Xin's face crumpled as he nodded, crying more. "Zan Jin passed away just two weeks ago. He struggled with cancer, HIV, and chlamydia before he finally succumbed." Zhan clutched his chest, watching Xin in distress. Xin continued in a soft voice, "He died at his family's home in the village because they couldn't afford hospital care. But before he died, he was desperate to see you."

Tears welled in Zhan's eyes. Xin broke down completely, saying, "Please, forgive us, Zhan, for anything we've ever done wrong to you. He Peng is the only one continuing his studies now…" Xin's sobs grew louder, showing deep regret. YiBo watched, his face hardened as anger simmered within him. Zhan was silent, tears streaming as painful memories returned.

Xin knelt and begged, "Please forgive me, Zhan. Now I survive by begging for food outside eateries and malls. Life has turned on me. On top of that, I'm battling illness too, and I won't lie...I have the disease as well. I'm barely managing to stay alive."

YiBo looked at Zhan and said, "Get in the car, baby." Zhan looked at him with tear-filled eyes and pleaded, "Please, let's help…." YiBo interrupted with a tone Zhan had never heard before, silencing him instantly. With a cold, firm expression, YiBo repeated, "I said, get in the car." Reluctantly, Zhan got in, closing the door softly.

Xin chased after the car, crying, "Please, help me, at least with money for medicine, Zhan…." YiBo lowered the window and stared at him. "Let this be a lesson to those with a heart like yours." With that, he drove off, leaving Xin sobbing, watching the car disappear.

***

Back at the palace, Zhan went to their room, overwhelmed. Xin's words replayed in his mind, and he broke down in sobs. YiBo walked in and found him in tears. In a gentle voice, he said, "Everything that happened was in your favor, Zhan. Believe that every disappointment is a blessing in disguise. Your disappointment turned into a blessing for you, baby. If things hadn't happened as they did, you might have ended up marrying Leo, a liar and a gangster. His cruel mother would've been your mother-in-law. And the truth about Leo is, he's done nothing but indulge in drugs and womanizing, hopping from country to country on my father's money."

"We grew up together, and I know his dark side better than anyone. He led you on because he wanted to settle down with someone innocent while he continued his reckless life. If you'd married Leo, you'd be living in more regret than what you faced before. His mother is heartless; she's like a demon in human form. But because you have a clean heart, fate intervened, changing your path at the right time. From nearly marrying Leo, you moved on to something much better."

As Zhan wiped away his tears, he nodded. "You're right." YiBo came closer, sitting next to him and pulling him into his arms. "And if none of that had happened, we wouldn't be married now," he said softly. "And I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier."

Zhan closed his eyes, inhaling YiBo's comforting scent, and replied, "I'm so proud to have you as my husband. I hope we will be together forever…" YiBo held him close and said, "I love you too much, my dear husband." Zhan closed his eyes, smiling, unable to speak, feeling renewed love fill his heart. In a soft voice, he added, "Promise me, if we ever see Xin again, you'll let me help him however I can. He said he needed medicine."

YiBo was silent for a moment, then replied, "I promise, my love. But when did my dear husband get so wealthy without my knowing?" Zhan kissed him and said, "Papa Wang gave me a black card too, and I also have my other card with monthly allowance from Paa and Zhuo Ge. Plus, I still have the money from your ring that I pawned the night I fled back to Beijing."

YiBo kissed him back and said, "I searched everywhere for that ring and eventually gave up. It's my wedding ring with twins mother, so I didn't want to remove it after she passed; it kept unwanted attention away."

Zhan pouted and said, "I'm sorry; I thought it is from Nia to you, so I didn't want you to have it." YiBo playfully tweaked his nose, laughing, "My jealous little husband. One day, I'll tell you about my encounter with Zan Jin when he spent the night with us back in Beijing… May he rest in peace…"

"Right now, I want something else," YiBo said with a mischievous smile. Startled, Zhan looked at him and saw him smile. YiBo closed his eyes and began kissing him passionately.

~~~~~

As Zhan's 20th birthday approached, his family began to plan a surprise celebration for him. They wanted this to be a day he would never forget, filled with all the people who loved and cherished him.

On the big day, Zhan was blissfully unaware. His husband, Yibo, had carefully orchestrated the entire surprise, making sure that everyone could be there to celebrate this special occasion.

When Zhan entered the grand living room, he was met with the warm sight of his family from Beijing: Paa, his beloved Mama, his older brother Zhuo Ge, his sister Lu Jie, his drama queen grandma, his twin brother Zhang...who was recently engaged to Ryan and would soon married and move to UK... and his Aunty An, who had always been a strong guiding figure in his life with her children Mei and Fei. They had all traveled a long way to be there, a true testament to their love for him.

From Yibo's side, there was General and Lily, his mother-in-law who had welcomed Zhan into the family with open arms, his ever-supportive husband Yibo, and of course, Ru and Tin, two close friends and best sisters-in-law ever. His person like second mother to them, Aunty Bella, who had flown in from the UK, added to the gathering with her radiant presence. And finally, there were his adorable twin sons, Tian and Jian, who were a beautiful symbol of the love he shared with Yibo.

The room was decorated with elegance...soft string lights, delicate flowers, and a table filled with Zhan's favorite dishes. As Zhan took in the sight, his eyes sparkled with joy and gratitude. It was a dream come true, having his entire family together like this.

They sang and toasted, shared laughter, and Zhan felt overwhelmed with happiness. But Yibo had planned an even bigger surprise.

As the room quieted, Yibo stepped forward and took Zhan's hands in his, gazing into his eyes with a soft, adoring expression.

"Zhan," he began, his voice warm and steady, "I've had the honor of being by your side, loving you, sharing our lives and raising our family. But today, I want to make it official..."

To everyone's surprise, Yibo knelt down on one knee, taking a small velvet box from his pocket. The room gasped as he looked up at Zhan with unwavering love.

"My dear baby husband, Will you marry me... again, and let me show you every day how much you mean to me?"

Zhan's eyes filled with tears as he looked around the room, seeing the faces of those he loved beaming back at him, and then back at Yibo. "Yes!" he said, his voice filled with emotion. "A thousand times, yes."

Everyone burst into applause and cheers as Yibo slipped a beautiful ring onto Zhan's finger.

But the surprises weren't over yet. Yibo smiled, pulling out a second envelope and handing it to Zhan.

"This is my birthday gift to you," he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. Zhan opened it, reading through the document in his hands, his expression turning to one of stunned surprise.

"These are adoption papers," Yibo explained. "I want you to be the twins' official father, their Baba, just as much as I am their Daddy. You've given them all your love, and I know you are their true father in every way."

As Zhan's fingers traced over the words on the page, he noticed another detail that took his breath away. The names on the document were changed: his sons were now officially Wang Xiao Jian and Wang Xiao Tian.

Zhan looked up at Yibo, his voice choked with emotion. "You changed their names… You did this for me?"

Yibo nodded, gently touching Zhan's cheek. "You're their father, Zhan. They deserve to carry a part of you, just like they carry my name."

Zhan couldn't hold back the tears any longer as he pulled Yibo into a tight embrace, whispering a heartfelt, "Thank you."

The room was filled with applause, laughter, and joyful tears as they celebrated not just Zhan's birthday, but the deepening of the love that bound them all together. This was more than just a birthday; it was the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, one they would cherish forever.

THE END...

Epilogue

Seven years had passed, and life had been kind to the Wang family. Zhan, now a stunning 27-year-old, had risen to become the Director of Wang Corporation, a role he embraced with passion and skill. His husband, Yibo, now 34, continued as CEO, leading the company with strength and vision. Together, they made an unstoppable team both in business and in life.

Their twins, Tian and Jian, were already 9 years old, sharp and full of personality. And then there was their youngest, 3-year-old Wang Xiao Ai, a precious addition who had been born through surrogacy. With Zhan's DNA, Ai shared a remarkable resemblance to her father, and every day, her curious eyes and bright smiles brought new energy to their home.

In the mornings, the house would come alive with laughter, small feet running down hallways, and calls of "Baba!" or "Daddy!" echoing through the rooms. It was during breakfast, a treasured family ritual, that the Wang family enjoyed the warmth of their bond the most.

"Jian, stop taking all the strawberries!" Tian protested, reaching over the table to grab a few from his brother's plate.

Jian laughed, hiding them behind his back. "Catch me if you can, Tian!"

Zhan shook his head, laughing at their antics. "Boys, let's have breakfast, not a race. Besides, your sister hasn't even gotten any strawberries yet."

Little Ai, watching her brothers with big eyes, let out a delighted giggle as Yibo slipped a few strawberries onto her plate, giving her a wink.

Yibo watched his family, a soft smile on his face. This was his heaven... the simple, joyful chaos that filled their lives. He reached over to touch Zhan's hand, sharing a silent moment of gratitude. They had built something incredible together, a family bound by love and laughter.

Later that day, Yibo and Zhan took the kids to the park, where the twins insisted on showing off their soccer skills. Tian was serious about aiming for goals, while Jian, ever the prankster, would try to steal the ball from his brother just as he was about to score.

As the boys dashed across the field, Ai toddled after them, determined to join in despite her tiny stature. Yibo scooped her up, spinning her in his arms as she squealed in delight, while Zhan pretended to be the referee, calling "fouls" every time Jian got too competitive. Their laughter filled the park, drawing smiles from passersby.

That night, after the children had gone to bed, Zhan and Yibo finally had some time alone. In their quiet bedroom, Yibo pulled Zhan close, brushing a tender kiss against his forehead.

"It's hard to believe we're here, isn't it?" Zhan murmured, his voice filled with awe. "We've got three beautiful children, a life we only dreamed of, and I still get to call you mine."

Yibo chuckled, running his fingers through Zhan's hair. "I think I'm the lucky one. Every day with you, Zhan, I feel like I'm living a dream."

They shared a long, quiet moment, the comfort of their love filling the room.

Suddenly, a small knock sounded on the door, and Tian peeked his head in. "Baba, Daddy… I had a nightmare," he whispered, looking slightly embarrassed.

Zhan chuckled softly and patted the bed. "Come on in, Tian. And bring your brother; I know he's out there too."

Sure enough, Jian slipped into the room behind Tian, grinning sheepishly, and climbed onto the bed. Just as they were all settling in, little Ai padded into the room, clutching her teddy bear and climbing up between her siblings without a word.

Yibo and Zhan exchanged a glance and a smile, pulling their children close. Their cozy bedroom, once meant just for two, now overflowed with love and laughter.

In that moment, surrounded by his family, Zhan realized that every dream he'd ever had had come true. And, with Yibo's hand in his, he knew that this was only the beginning of many more perfect, happy moments together...

And together, they all live happily ever after.😎

Author

Hey, this is enough 😏 seriously, if you don't want me to start writing nonsense... Then this is it😅 the rest that I didn't mention or forget about.. Fell free to go with whatever your imagination giving to you. 😀😀😀

The silent readers I thank you too 😂🙏

I will take a couple of weeks to rest and refresh my head, then come back with another hopefully amazing Yizhan or Zhanyi story.