After ending the call with Malo, Yibo released a heavy breath and tossed his phone onto the seat beside him.
Just then, the boy he had been waiting for returned. Yibo was parked in front of a frozen products store where he often bought meat.
The young man opened the front door and placed the plastic bags inside.
"๐ป๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐, ๐ ๐๐."
Yibo nodded briefly, started the car, and drove back onto the road. On the surface, he looked calm and focused on driving, but inside his mind was in chaos. His thoughts kept circling endlessly, searching for a single solution, yet every path led back to nothing.
As he neared home, Duan suddenly came to mind. He pulled out his phone and dialed his number while driving. Duan answered after the second ring.
"๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐?" Duan asked after their brief greeting.
Yibo bit his lower lip slightly and told him everything Malo had said.
Duan thought for a moment before replying,
"๐ฐ ๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐. ๐ฑ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐."
Yibo shook his head.
"๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ , ๐ซ๐๐๐. ๐ด๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐ด๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐พ๐ ๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐."
They continued talking until Yibo reached the front gate of his house. As he opened the gate and drove inside, Duan said:
"๐ซ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐? ๐ด๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐."
"๐ป๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐," Yibo said as he got out of the car and turned to close the gate.
"๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐? ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐? ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐, ๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐? ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐?"
He shook his head again while locking the gate and walking back.
"๐ต๐. ๐ป๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐."
"๐บ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐?"
"๐ฐ ๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐'๐. ๐ฐ'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
Duan sighed.
"๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฑ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ."
They ended the call. Yibo picked up the shopping bags, locked the car, and headed inside the house.
The moment he opened the sitting room door, the familiar scent of incense filled his lungs. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him with his foot, since his hands were full.
But as soon as his feet touched the floor, an unusual silence greeted him. The house was always quiet when he returned...Zhan was often asleep or upstairs doing something...so the silence usually welcomed him before Zhan did.
But this time, the silence felt different. Too heavy.
He walked into the kitchen and found Zhan's dishes arranged neatly, just as he always did. The lingering aroma of his cooking and the familiar scent that clung to Zhan's skin filled the room.
That confirmed that Zhan hadn't left long ago. He placed the bags on the counter and went upstairs, hoping to find him there. But the same silence followed him upstairs. He checked every room, calling Zhan's name, but nothing answered him.
A faint unease crept into his mind as he stood in Zhan's bedroom. He walked to the bathroom door and knocked while calling his name. Once, twice, three times. No response. He turned the handle and opened the door, but the emptiness inside only deepened the dread in his chest.
Panic began to take hold. He rushed through the other rooms, checking every corner, calling Zhan's name repeatedly...still nothing. The silence was suffocating.
His heart began to race violently. He hurried back downstairs, checked the guest bathroom, then returned to the kitchen...nothing had changed.
A fresh wave of anxiety crushed his chest.
Where did Zhan go? How did he leave without me knowing? Where could he go, when he never leaves the house since he arrived?
With his heart in his throat, he rushed from the kitchen to the sitting room, then outside, calling Zhan's name as he searched around the house. He walked around the compound, even checked the small guard room that was still under construction. Zhan wasn't there. He wasn't anywhere.
Then a thought struck him.
He pulled out his phone to call Zhan. In his panic, he almost dialed Duan's number before stopping himself and searching for Zhan's contact.
He pressed call.
The call connected immediately...but his small spark of hope shattered when he heard Zhan's phone ringing inside the house. His legs felt weak as he rushed back inside. From the doorway, he saw the phone lying on the chair, ringing loudly.
Zhan had left without his phone.
He stood there, staring at the phone while it kept ringing, his mind in turmoil. A wave of panic unlike anything he had ever experienced before surged through him. His thoughts spiraled wildly, repeating the same fear over and over.
An idea crossed his mind...but he forced himself to reject it.
That's impossible.
Butโฆ what if it wasn't?
Yibo looked down at his phone again and realized he didn't even know who to call. Whoever he called, he wouldn't know what to say. He slipped the phone into his pocket, turned around, and stepped outside the house.
The street was usually quiet, and it wasn't uncommon to find no one outside. The only person he often saw was the security guard from the neighboring house, who usually sat on a bench by the gate. Yibo had known the man since his house was being built, so when he spotted him, he walked straight over.
"๐บ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ ๐๐. ๐ป๐๐ค ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฆ?" the man greeted with a smile.
Yibo hesitated, unsure how to begin, then finally asked the question that had brought him there.
The guard shook his head.
"๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ก๐ค๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ โ๐๐ข๐ ๐. ๐ด๐๐ก๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก, ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐'๐ก ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก."
Yibo nodded.
"๐ด๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข'๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐คโ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐?"
"๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฆ. ๐ผ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐."
"๐โ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข."
He wasn't even sure how he managed to finish the conversation. He thanked the man and went back into the house, where the silence greeted him once again. He stood there, staring at the building from top to bottom, and his heart grew heavier, as if something inside him was telling him that his life was on the verge of changing completely.
He pulled out his phone again and called the only person he felt could help him.
"๐พ๐๐๐?" Duan asked in surprise.
"๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐?"
Yibo didn't know what to say. Everything he could say would just be repetition. He rubbed his head as Duan continued:
"๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐?"
"๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐."
"๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ? ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐? ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐?"
Yibo shook his head, even though Duan couldn't see him. He didn't want this to turn into a police-style interrogation.
"๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
"๐บ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐."
As soon as Duan said that, Yibo rushed back inside, picked up Zhan's phone, and turned it on. At the top of the call log was Aunty Shui's number. The call time flashed before his eyes
....it had been less than thirty minutes ago.
"๐ป๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐. ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐," Duan said after Yibo told him the time.
"๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐? ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐?"
"๐ฐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐. ๐ฐ'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ต๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐."
"๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐? ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐?"
"๐ฐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ซ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฑ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
All he could do was take a deep breath and try to calm himself. He put down Zhan's phone, took out his own, searched for Aunty Shui's number, and called her.
She answered, and he introduced himself since she didn't recognize his number. They exchanged greetings, and he asked about their visit casually. She replied normally, without any sign of concern. After ending the call, Yibo's unease deepened.
"๐ด๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐ซ๐๐๐. ๐ซ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ?"
"๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐?" Duan asked.
Yibo shook his head.
"๐ต๐, ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฐ๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ . ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐...๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐." Duan said and the call ended abruptly.
Yibo dropped both phones on the table and began searching the house again, checking the same places he had already checked earlier. When he returned from the backyard, another thought struck him. He should ask the people outside. He shouldn't have relied only on the guard, who had already admitted he sometimes left his post.
He noticed a tire repairman who usually sat by the roadside. If Zhan had left the neighborhood, the man would have seen him.
He went back inside, picked up both his phone and Zhan's phone, then walked to the gate and stepped outside.
In his ignorance and helplessness, Yibo didn't even look back.
He had no idea that this would be the last time he would ever see the house the way it was in few days.
:
:
๐ ๐๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ซ
"๐โ๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ โ๐๐? ๐โ๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐? ๐โ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐, ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก'๐ ๐คโ๐ฆ ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐? ๐ด๐๐ ๐๐๐ค ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐๐ก โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐?"
The moment those words reached Zhan's ears and sank into his mind, the first thing he struggled for was air. His breath caught in his throat, as though something heavy had slammed into his chest.
His hand, which had been holding the curtain, suddenly went cold. From outside, he watched Yibo shaking his head after closing the gate, his voice carrying clearly:
"๐ผ๐ก'๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐'๐ก โ๐๐ค ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ๐กโ๐๐๐."
The weight in Zhan's chest intensified. His legs began to tremble, and he felt as though they no longer belonged to him...as if the ground beneath him was shaking, as if the entire house might collapse on top of him. The pounding of his heart filled his ears so loudly that he couldn't hear the rest of what Yibo was saying on the phone.
He released the curtain and turned away as the world spun around him, tears flooding his eyes.
A cold sensation crawled down his spine, reaching his bones with a force that burned deeper than pain. He bit his lip to stop the sob threatening to escape, his entire body shaking uncontrollably. His vision blurred....not only from tears, but because his world had shattered in an instant, along with every hope he had clung to while fighting the doubts that had once tried to warn him of this very day.
The dizziness and the chaos in his head told him he couldn't face Yibo right now. So when he heard the car door slam and sensed Yibo approaching, he turned and rushed into the kitchen, heading straight for the store door. He opened it, slipped inside, and locked it from the inside.
(That was why, when Yibo entered the kitchen earlier, he had smelled Zhan's perfume.)
Inside the store room, Zhan collapsed to the floor, burying his face between his knees. Warm tears streamed down without restraint, soaking his clothes. His body kept trembling as his mind replayed countless moments that now felt like the beginning of his punishment.
"๐ผ ๐ค๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐๐ข, ๐โ๐๐."
"๐ท๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐ผ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐๐ข?"
"๐ฝ๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐. ๐ผ'๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐โ ๐ฆ๐๐ข โ๐๐ค ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐๐โฆ"
He shut his eyes, feeling those memories burn like poison in his veins. Everything had started with those words...leading to this moment, to this shared life.
He remembered how Yibo used to hold him, the things he used to say.
So it was all a lie? Was it all just for some hidden purpose?
That was why Yibo had never let anything happen between them all this time. His mind echoed Yibo's words again:
"๐๐ ๐๐๐'๐กโฆ ๐๐ ๐๐๐'๐ก ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ โฆ"
His stomach twisted, his body shaking harder as nausea rose in his throat. His heart clenched painfully in his chest. Part of him wanted to deny the truth that was now laid bare, to cling to even a single memory that could prove Yibo's feelings were real. But every memory he revisited now revealed layers of deception buried beneath them.
He remembered their wedding, how everything had happened so quietly. None of the people he had assumed were Yibo's close relatives had ever been present. Even Aunty Shui had once remarked that the people who attended the wedding didn't seem like the ones who had visited him in the hospital. But no one had paid attention...they were already married, and everyone assumed family was large and scattered.
He remembered that since moving into the house, he had never once met anyone truly close to Yibo.
"๐โ๐๐ฆ'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐โ๐๐. ๐ผ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข, ๐ผ ๐๐๐'๐ก โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ โ๐๐๐. ๐โ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐คโ๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐ผ ๐๐๐'๐ก ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ผ? ๐๐๐ข'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ฆ, ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆโฆ"
He remembered how Yibo had whispered those words into his ear, while his fingers entwined with his.
How could he have been so blind?
How could he have let his heart trap him so easily? How many signs had he ignored? Even the exaggerated reactions at the hospital when people heard about their marriage...shouldn't that have told him something? Those people had known Yibo long before him. They knew what he was capable of and what he wasn't. If they were shocked by his marriage, why had he convinced himself it meant nothing?
It wasn't only that...If he paused and studied Yibo more carefully. Anyone could see that Yibo had all the qualities to marry a woman ten times better than him. So why hadn't he questioned how Yibo had come into his life so deliberately, pursuing him relentlessly until he finally agreed?
Just then, he heard Yibo's voice from inside the house, as if he was about to go out. He covered his face with both palms, hoping it would ease the pain inside him. But nothing changed. The burning ache in his chest continued, intense and suffocating, as if it were rising to his throat. His mind replayed Yibo's words again:
"โฆ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐? ๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐, ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก'๐ ๐คโ๐ฆ ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐?"
A surge of panic flooded his thoughts.
How did Yibo know Peng? How did he know what happened between me and Peng? And why is Peng tracking my life? What does he want from me? Does that mean Yibo's persistence in marrying me also had an agenda? How did Yibo find out? How did he come with his own plan for me?
Tears gathered in his eyes again.
So to both of them, he was nothing more than an objective....something to be used.
He remembered Yibo's gaze, the way he used to look at him, how easily his heart had believed every word he said. Only heavens knew whether Yibo had ever looked at him without calculating that he was just another challenge in his life.
He realized that his heart wasn't breaking only because of the truth...it was breaking because he had entrusted his entire life to a man who was never meant for him.
From where he was sitting, he didn't know how many times he heard the gate open and close. After a while, he thought he heard Yibo speaking in the sitting room, but the heaviness in his chest didn't lessen, and he still couldn't bring himself to face him.
So he remained inside, unraveling the painful truth piece by piece, until the house grew quiet again...signaling that Yibo had left once more.
He decided to come out and think about what to do next, or how he would face Yibo when he returned. He knew he couldn't endure feeling this pain again, even for a second.
So he stood up and opened the door. He stepped out just as he heard the sitting room door open.
He was slightly surprised that he hadn't heard the gate open this time, but he didn't dwell on it. He walked to the sink, turned on the tap, splashed water on his face, and wiped it thoroughly. Then he turned, intending to walk into the sitting room....
๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง...
The sight of a huge man standing at the kitchen doorway made his heart feel like it was about to burst out of his chest. His body began to tremble as he stepped backward, but he barely managed two or three steps before the man reached him.
He tried to scream, but the man grabbed him roughly and covered his mouth with a large, calloused hand that carried a harsh, unpleasant smell.
"๐ป๐'๐ โ๐๐๐โฆ"
Zhan heard the man say loudly, as if speaking to someone else.
He struggled desperately, kicking and swinging his arms, but the man dragged him toward the sitting room.
"๐ท๐๐'๐ก ๐๐๐โ๐ก!" the man barked, yanking him fully out of the kitchen.
In the sitting room, Zhan saw two other men. Without wasting a second, one of them stepped forward and released something into the air just as the man holding him removed his hand from his mouth.
He tried to scream, but his voice didn't go anywhere as his entire body suddenly went limp.
๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐โฆ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฌโฆ
Zhan stared at them until his eyes closed, slipping into a world he didn't recognize.
With practiced ease, the man slung Zhan over his shoulder, and they carried him out of the house and into their car parked outside the gate.
The driver sped away immediately. One of the men pulled out his phone and made a call.
"๐๐'๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ก โ๐๐."
Back at the hospital, Peng smiled from his bed and continued chewing the banana in his mouth.
In his heart, he admitted that just like the softness of the banana, he had been soft in the past...and that softness had led to everything that had happened.
But not anymore.
From now on, he would smash every obstacle in his path without mercy.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โค๐