Zhan spent quite some time on his rounds, checking on all the children under his care. He worked with a cheerful spirit, displaying both skill and genuine attentiveness. Though this career hadn't been his first choice, over time, he had grown to love it deeply. What began as a reluctant path had now become the profession he cherished most...especially because of the lives he helped save.
His connection with the children was natural and heartfelt. Every child he treated grew fond of him, regardless of language, skin color, nationality, or background. He had a gift for forming bonds, and many of his former patients stayed in contact with him even after being discharged.
Once he finished with the children, he moved on to seeing his other patients, maintaining his professionalism and energy. He felt more at ease during this time...Dr. Adrian rarely interrupted him when he was seeing patients.
It took him quite a while to finish his rounds. Though the hospital here wasn't as overwhelmed as those back in his own country, where doctors were often burdened with more work than they could handle, Zhan's dedication and expertise meant he was always engaged in patient care.
Zhan let out a small breath as he glanced at his wristwatch. It was almost time to pick up the kids from school. Only a few minutes remained. Although the school usually dropped them off directly at their doorstep, today he had promised to pick them up himself....their release time aligned perfectly with the end of his shift.
Calmly, he stood and began rolling down the sleeves of his shirt. His eyes drifted to the calendar pinned on his office wall. He was counting the days left in the month and those remaining until their upcoming seminar trip to Dubai. He wasn't particularly fond of such trips...mostly due to the attention he attracted and the uncomfortable crowding. No matter where he went, people always seemed to gather around him, snapping pictures like he was some celebrity idol.
Still, whenever an opportunity for growth arose in the hospital, Dr. Adrian never hesitated to put Zhan's name forward. It was one of the reasons behind Zhan's growing success and reputation....Adrian's belief in him and his talent never wavered.
On the personal side, Zhan drew immense strength and encouragement from Aunt Anu and Papa. He often wondered how he could ever express enough gratitude to them. They had supported him through everything, offered guidance, and helped him reach the level he was at today.
With quiet focus, he finished adjusting his sleeves. His neatly styled hair, soft and well-kept, gleamed under the light and carried a clean, subtle fragrance. He tied it back with a simple white band. Despite his busy schedule, he didn't like getting haircuts too often. After removing his wristwatch, he stepped into the washroom to rinse his hands and face...his usual routine. When he emerged, he pulled out a soft handkerchief with a cool, calming scent and dried off gently before putting his watch back on.
He picked up his kid lunch box and his handbag before leaving the office. Moving quickly, he passed by Dr. Adrian's office, careful to avoid being seen. He didn't want to be stopped or... worse....escorted out by Dr Adrian. That was the last thing he wanted. He hated the idea of his children seeing him with a stranger, someone unfamiliar to them. He wouldn't even know what to say if they asked who Dr Adrian was. Thankfully, they never had. Despite their intelligence, sharp minds, and insight, they had never once asked about their father. For that, Zhan was quietly grateful.
He started the car and began driving out of the hospital compound. As he glanced at the rearview mirror, he spotted Dr. Adrian standing with his arms crossed, watching the car as it pulled away. That sight brought Zhan a quiet satisfaction...clearly, Adrian had hoped to catch him before he left, but failed. Perhaps he got caught up with work and forgot the time, only realizing too late that Zhan had slipped past him. Knowing Adrian, he would've found a way to insist they leave together. And that was exactly what Zhan wanted to avoid.
Zhan hadn't driven far when he felt the buzz of an incoming message on his phone. He didn't need to check....he already knew it was from Dr. Adrian. He ignored it and continued driving calmly.
Twenty-five smooth minutes later, he arrived at the school. Parking in the designated area, he watched the children streaming out, heading toward the waiting vehicles that would take them home. Most of them were foreign kids with reddish skin tones...some were locals, others from abroad, much like his own.
His eyes stayed fixed on the path until he spotted his children approaching...beautiful twins who always drew attention. Though they didn't look exactly alike, they were unmistakably fraternal twins. One glance was all it took to see the resemblance.
He watched them intently, almost as if he didn't know them. As he looked at them, a familiar warmth stirred in his chest...that deep bond only a parent feels for their children.
A soft smile escaped him when he saw the twins pause to speak to each other. Jiangji, who always acted like the older one, was frowning as he walked ahead. Many times, Zhan would sit and quietly wonder who the boys resembled. From his side of the family, no one seemed to match them. But Aunt Anu always said Jiangji looked like Zhan when he was a toddler. As for Jianghu, no one could quite place his resemblance. Their personalities, though....especially Jiangji's...often left Zhan astonished.
Jiangji behaved more like a grown man than a child...so calculated, so sharp. Whenever Zhan's thoughts ran in circles trying to piece together answers, frustration would set in, especially when his instincts whispered:
"Maybe they got these traits from their father's side..."
He'd often brush the thought away in irritation, as if someone had spoken it aloud. Clearly, it was a sore spot.
Jiangji was the first to reach him, still wearing that unreadable expression on his face.
"You and that grumpy attitude again," Zhan teased as Jiangji climbed into the front seat.
"My friend at school said we don't have a daddy," Jiangji said. "Because he's never seen ours. His own dad drops him off every day. So he said he'd give us his daddy. Jianghu said okay, we want him."
The words hit Zhan like a punch to the chest. He couldn't respond. For all these years, everyone who knew them simply knew Zhan was both mother and father to the boys. They had raised them alone. Now, Jianghu had quietly slipped into the back seat, shutting the door. Still, Zhan said nothing. Not a single word. He just started the engine.
He felt Jiangji wrap his arms around him from the back...a quick, warm hug....and celebrate the fact that Zhan had come to pick them up himself. But Zhan didn't turn to look at them, didn't speak, didn't react. His silence stretched on while the boys chatted in the background.
No matter how far you throw a stone, it always falls back to earth. The day he had always dreaded, the day they'd start asking questions, was finally approaching. What answers would be enough for the kind of questions they were bound to ask...especially now that their awareness was growing by the day?
Slowly, Zhan glanced over at the back seat. Jiangji was sitting with his schoolbooks on his lap, absorbed in a large paper he had unfolded. Zhan looked again.
It was a photo of a business tycoon....one of the most famous faces in the world. This man was everywhere, across nations and industries. Over the past year alone, Zhan had seen his image and heard his name more times than he could count.
But every time Zhan laid eyes on this man's face, he felt a wave of discomfort, an inexplicable unease. He didn't know why. Maybe it had something to do with the man's title, the one he used so flamboyantly. PRINCE M.W.Y.
Ever since the events of that distant past, Zhan had developed a deep aversion to anything even remotely related to royalty. Titles, clothing, symbol...anything with a whiff of nobility stirred that bitter taste again. That's why, he believed, he hated seeing this man's face. And yet it was nearly impossible to avoid. Whether in posters, newspapers, or world news broadcasts...especially in business segments....his face was always there.
"Where did you get that photo?" Zhan asked Jiangji, his eyes still on the road as he continued driving.
"Uncle gave it to me... I want to be like this man when I grow up. Uncle said he's really hardworking. I want to be just like him."
Zhan smiled at the sincerity in his son's voice, the way he spoke with such seriousness, like a little adult. Without looking, he reached over and gently ran his hand through Jiangji's hair before saying,
"I hope you become even greater than him one day. You don't even know who he is yet, but if you want to be better than him, then be better in the good things he does. Understand?"
Jiangji nodded without taking his eyes off the paper, clearly fascinated by the photo.
When they got home, the twins had already jumped out of the car by the time Zhan finished gathering their things. As he stepped out and moved to lock the car, he spotted Jianghu walking ahead...wearing a plastic toy crown.
Immediately, Zhan felt a wave of unease wash over him. He rushed after Jianghu, catching up to him just as the boy was about to enter the house. Zhan grabbed him gently but firmly, pulling the crown off his head.
"Where did you get this?!" he snapped, clearly agitated.
Jianghu looked up at him, startled by the sudden scolding. "My friend gave it to me," he said softly.
Seeing that crown only deepened Zhan's frustration. His eyes narrowed.
"Are you out of your mind, Jianghu? Begging for things now? What does that child have to do with you that they're giving you something like this?"
Jianghu flinched, his small shoulders rising defensively. His eyes welled with tears.
"I liked it, Baba… It looked nice. She said she had lots of them from her birthday party, so she gave me one."
Zhan flung the crown aside, the sight of it stirring up something dark in him. For a second, it reminded him of the Tianjin royal family's crest...something about the design tugged at a memory he didn't want. He had the urge to stomp it into pieces. But then he noticed Jianghu staring longingly at the discarded crown, tears threatening to spill.
"This is your last warning," Zhan said, voice hard. "I don't want to see you with that thing again. Not that, or anything someone else gives you. Next time, I'll make sure you never forget it. You hear me?"
He twisted the boy's ear lightly as he spoke, not harsh enough to hurt, but enough to get the point across.
Jianghu quickly nodded, holding his ear, tears now running down his cheeks.
Then came a pang of guilt.
Zhan let go, sighing as the anger melted into concern. "Alright. Go inside. Both of you."
The boys hurried in. Zhan turned to glance once more at the spot where he had thrown the crown, lingering there for a moment, then finally followed them into the house.
As he stepped through the door, he realized Aunt Anu had been standing nearby, witnessing everything. Their eyes met briefly. She looked away without a word and stepped aside to let him pass.
In his room, he found the twins sitting quietly, still in their school uniforms, not having showered or changed. The moment he entered, they both ran toward him and wrapped their arms around him. Jianghu was still crying, but Jiangji spoke first.
"Sorry, Bah. He won't do it again."
Zhan felt his heart soften. Their love for him was so strong, so sincere. They couldn't bear to see him upset. They'd lose sleep over it if they thought they'd disappointed him. He crouched down, pulling both boys close, gently running his hand over Jianghu's head.
"It's okay now. It's over. Calm down."
Soon, the tension lifted. He bathed them, helped them change, and then they all had dinner together. After that, they moved to the living room.
The house was quiet today. Ao and Niu were at school...they only came home on weekends. Surui had gone out with their father, and Huzi was napping, having returned from school earlier than the twins. They didn't attend the same school. Nioa was still with Aunt Anu.
After the kids went out, Zhan finally took his own shower. He sat in front of the mirror, gently applying his premium skincare products...soft, fragrant, and undeniably expensive. While doing so, he glanced through a message from Dr. Adrian.
"Thank you so much for running off and leaving me, but even so, I'm still grateful I got to see you today. I can't wait for tomorrow just to lay eyes on you again. I keep hoping for the day you'll finally trust me enough to let me visit you...even just once in my lifetime."
Zhan curled his lip in mild annoyance. In his mind, he muttered to himself, brushing off the message as empty flattery dressed in poetic nonsense.
Just as he finished putting on his shirt, Aunt Anu walked in.
"Good job today, Zhan," she said.
Even without a direct reference, he already knew she was talking about Jianghu. Those children were her pride and joy... no one else compared in her eyes. They were untouchable under her watch, and their popularity with everyone in the household often left Zhan puzzled.
He didn't respond as she sat at the edge of his bed.
"So now even Jianghu deserves that kind of harshness from you?" she asked calmly. "That child doesn't know anything yet. He doesn't even know who he really is. I've told you countless times...you're going to have to develop some patience with what you'll keep seeing from them. Whether we like it or not, royal blood runs in their veins. You'll see signs of pride and dominance in them, and we can't erase that...it's part of who they are. That's how life shaped them."
She looked at him meaningfully. "Please… stop reacting so strongly. They're still children. They don't understand yet. And trying to avoid one problem may end up landing you in a worse one. Focus instead on helping them grow into people who'll ask questions and seek truth."
That was Aunt Anu....firm, but fair. Like a mother to him in every way. Zhan sighed softly and replied with lowered eyes, "I'll try to do better, Mumma."
She nodded, satisfied. "Good. I figured you were heading out soon."
"Yeah, I'm just about to leave," Zhan replied. "I've got a case I wanted to tell you about...saw a child today with an unusual condition. Really strange and baffling."
Aunt Anu smiled. "Honestly, I don't think there's anything you care about more than your job these days. Every time we talk, it's a new case. You've come a long way since I was fighting tooth and nail with Papa just to get you into pediatrics."
Zhan laughed heartily, flashing a rare full smile that showed off his perfect white teeth.
"Mumma, stop bringing up the past!"
"Oh, please," she said with a laugh as she stood up and walked out of the room.
Zhan turned back to the mirror, still smiling. He picked up a cream-like cologne and applied a light layer over his hands, torso, and neck. A soft, luxurious scent filled the room within seconds. He returned the bottle to its place, picked up his phone, and stepped out.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛