Zhan woke up late and glanced at his clock, realizing it was already past 11 a.m. He stretched and yawned before getting up to head to the bathroom for his morning routine. Once he finished, he lazily lay back down and pulled out his laptop to start browsing. Just then, he heard his mom calling from downstairs. He rolled his eyes, pretending he didn't hear her.
Knock knock knock
"What is it?!" Zhan ask
" Young Master please Mrs. Shuyi wants to see you right now"
Zhan reluctantly closed his laptop and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, trying to shake off the lethargy. As he stood up, he stretched again, arching his back and extending his arms over his head.
"Coming!"He took his time descending the stairs, his bare feet padding softly on the cool marble floor. The grand staircase curved elegantly, offering a view of the expansive foyer below. Zhan's gaze drifted to the large chandelier, its crystals sparkling in the afternoon light.
Zhan sighed inwardly, wondering what his mother wanted this time.
As Zhan walked toward the study, his mind began to wander, and he remembered why his mother was calling him. It was about the upcoming trip to Qinghai Island, a remote and rustic place he had no desire to visit. He had heard it was more like a village than an island, with limited amenities and a laid-back atmosphere that didn't appeal to his urban lifestyle.
Zhan's feet seemed to slow of their own accord as he thought about the prospect of spending time on the island. He turned around, intending to retreat back to the safety of his room, but before he could take a step, a familiar voice stopped him.
"Where are you off to, little brother?" Jiyang, Zhan's older brother, asked, his tone laced with amusement.
Zhan turned to face Jiyang, who was standing with his arms crossed, a knowing glint in his eye. Zhan's attempt to escape was foiled, and he knew he couldn't avoid his mother's summons now.
"Just... uh... getting a drink," Zhan stammered, trying to come up with a plausible excuse.
Jiyang raised an eyebrow. "At this hour? You're not even having breakfast yet."
Zhan shrugged, feeling his brother's gaze on him. "I'm not hungry."
Jiyang chuckled. "You're trying to avoid Mother, aren't you? About Qinghai Island, I presume?"
Zhan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he shot his brother a warning look. How did Jiyang always know?
As Jiyang approached, Zhan's expression turned stubborn. "What do you want?" he asked gruffly, trying to sound uninterested.
Jiyang smirked. "Just making sure you're not planning to hide from Mother again. You know she's been looking forward to this trip to Grandma and Grandpa's for weeks."
Zhan scowled. "I don't see why we have to go. It's so boring there."
Jiyang chuckled. "You're just saying that because you know I'll be there to tease you the whole time."
Zhan's face reddened. "I'm not afraid of you, Jiyang!"
Their banter quickly escalated into a playful argument, with both brothers laughing and joking as they walked toward the study. However, their lighthearted mood was short-lived, as they soon found themselves standing outside the study door, where their mother's stern expression awaited.
"Enough, boys," Mrs. Shuyi said, her voice firm but amused. "Let's focus on the reason we're going to visit Grandma and Grandpa. It's your grandfather's birthday, and we need to be there to celebrate."
Zhan crossed his arms, still looking sulky. "Do we have to go? Can't we just send a gift or something?"
Mrs. Shuyi's expression turned serious. "No, we're going as a family. It's important to your grandparents that we're all there together."
Zhan's face scrunched up in distaste. "Why do we have to go all the way there just for Grandpa's birthday? Can't we celebrate some other time?"
Mrs. Shuyi's expression remained firm. "Zhan, your grandfather is turning 80. It's a big milestone, and he wants all of us there to celebrate with him. We're going, and that's final."
Zhan huffed, crossing his arms tighter. "I don't see why it's such a big deal. Grandpa's always yelling at me anyway."
Jiyang snickered. "Yeah, maybe he's just trying to toughen you up, little brother."
Zhan shot Jiyang a glare. "Shut up, Jiyang. You think you're so perfect just because you're older?"
Mrs. Shuyi sighed, rubbing her temples. "Boys, please. Can't we just have one conversation without arguing?"
Zhan's stubbornness showed no signs of wavering. "I'm not going," he declared, folding his arms across his chest.
Mrs. Shuyi's expression turned stern. "Zhan, you're going, and that's not up for debate. We'll leave tomorrow morning. Make sure you're packed and ready to go."
Zhan's face fell, but he refused to back down. "Fine," he muttered, storming out of the study.
•••
The next morning
As Mrs. Shuyi tried to reason with Zhan, Jiyang grabbed hold of Zhan's arm, trying to drag him toward the car. Zhan struggled and kicked, his face red with anger.
"Let me go! I'm not going anywhere!" Zhan shouted, trying to wriggle free.
Mrs. Shuyi sighed heavily, her patience wearing thin. "Jiyang, let him go."
But Jiyang refused, a mischievous glint in his eye. "No way, Mother. He's being a baby. He needs to learn to behave."
Mrs. Shuyi scolded Jiyang. "Jiyang, I said let him go. Now."
Jiyang reluctantly released Zhan, who immediately stuck out his tongue at Jiyang. "Eww," Jiyang said, making a face.
Mrs. Shuyi tried to comfort Zhan, who was still fuming. "Zhan, sweetie, please come with us. We'll have a great time, I promise. And if you don't like it, we'll come back right away."
But Zhan was having none of it. "No way, Mom. I'm not going. You can't make me."
Jiyang snorted. "You're 18, Zhan. Act like it. Stop being such a baby."
Mrs. Shuyi shot Jiyang a warning glance. "Jiyang, that's enough. Zhan, I promise we'll come back if you don't like it. Okay?"
Zhan looked up at his mother, his eyes still flashing with anger. "Fine," he muttered. "But if I don't like it, I'm blaming you."
Mrs. Shuyi smiled, relieved. "Deal, sweetie. Now let's get going."
As they headed out the door, Jiyang whispered in Zhan's ear, "You're such a baby." Zhan's face turned red with rage, and he tried to punch Jiyang, but Jiyang dodged out of the way just in time.