"๐ฝ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ฆ ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐.
๐๐๐ฆ ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ฆ.
๐๐๐ฆ ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ, ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข โ๐๐๐ ๐๐? ๐ด๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ , ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ ๐ก๐. ๐น๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐ผ ๐ ๐๐, ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ . ๐โ๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข. ๐๐๐ข ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐๐๐กโ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ โ๐๐, ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐."
Jeidi broke down completely. Her heart nearly stopped beating from the weight and tenderness of her mother's words. Since death had taken her husband, she had never heard words that truly touched her soul...until this moment, spoken by her mother at the very time when the world and everyone in it had turned their backs on her, blaming and avoiding her because of what had happened.
With a trembling voice, struggling to hold back tears, she asked,
"๐๐๐กโ๐๐โฆ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ผ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐?"
Her mother could not respond. She only adjusted her position slowly and closed her eyes, which were already fluttering weakly. She tried to utter the words of testimony, her voice broken and faint.
Jeidi understood instantly...her mother was dying.
With calm strength, she gently helped her complete the words. By God's mercy, her mother managed to repeat them, finishing with great difficulty as her soul slipped away. One disaster in life is often followed by another even greater one.
Jeidi's eyes and heart went dry at the same moment. Yet a heavy weight pressed against her chest and lodged painfully in her throat. Her hands were still inside her mother's when she died. She closed her eyes slowly, feeling the pressure in her chest intensify. She rose carefully, placed her baby gently aside, and moved toward Aunty, who was curled up nearby, shivering with a severe fever. She touched her softly and called her name, saying in a calm, quiet voice,
"๐ด๐ข๐๐ก๐ฆโฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ข๐. ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐๐ฆ."
Aunty jolted upright suddenly, her eyes wide with shock. She stared toward where her co-wife lay and turned up the lamp light.
"๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐? ๐ผ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ก โ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐...๐ โ๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐."
She stood quickly and rushed to her in panic.
"๐ป๐๐ค ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐ โ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข'๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐?"
She stood before the body, calling her name, her voice shaking with fear. When she finally accepted that her co-wife was gone, she stumbled out of the room and collapsed in the courtyard, crying weakly and helplessly.
When she was only seventeen, her husband had married her from her village, as she and her younger sister were orphans. He brought them both home. At the time, Mama was not yet nineteen. They lived together peacefully, like sisters, until her younger sister Indei married as well. They lived well together for years...loving and respecting each other...until death took the man who held them together. Aunty had no one in the world except Mama and Mama's children, whom she herself had raised from infancy.
Now Mama was gone, leaving her drowning in loneliness...at the very moment when herย children were caught in a conflict that could divide them forever, if not for divine intervention.
Before dawn, Lee and Kai arrived. Aunty had called them using the small phone Jeidi had bought for them before traveling to Chongqing...the same phone she used to stay in touch.
Jeidi sat quietly in the room, holding her baby tightly to her chest as they entered. Neither of them looked in her direction. They prayed over their mother's body and left immediately to begin burial arrangements.
The baby, whom Jeidi named ๐ฌ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ผ immediately after her mother's death, slept peacefully. He was dressed in soft white clothes she had taken from her old belongings...clothes that once belonged to Zulou, now too large for the newborn, but that was the only ones she had.
News of their mother's death spread quickly, and people from the neighborhood began to arrive in mourning.
Jeidi remained in the room with her baby. She did not come out, fearing accusations and cruel words, especially so soon after her loss. She stayed inside until her mother was washed, shrouded, prayed over, and taken away. No matter how much she wanted to cry, she could not. Her heart was numb...hardened by hunger, grief, and bitterness.
When most visitors had left, she came out quietly to bathe using hot water Aunty had prepared. The baby cried loudly as she bathed . That was when the remaining mourners noticed his presence.
After that, she returned to the room and did not come out again.
She bathed the baby herself, as Aunty was occupied with visitors.
She stayed in the room until nightfall. The only thing she did was eat the food she had paid for and asked Aunty to buy for them. They ate together in silence.
The next day, whispers spread through the neighborhood. People claimed that the pregnancy she had hidden was what killed their mother from shock and grief.
That night, chaos erupted in the house.
Lee and Kai confronted her and swore that she must leave the house with her child. They said she would not raise a child they believed caused their mother's death under their mother's roof.
Since her mother's death, Jeidi's heart had hardened. Without argument, she began packing her belongings.
Aunty looked at her helplessly and asked,
"๐โ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐, ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐?"
Tears of deep pity streamed down Jeidi's face. Leaving Aunty felt like abandoning her to the world. Lee and Kai had not supported their mother while she was alive...how would they care for Aunty, who had nothing and no one?
But what choice did she have? She had been driven out. And she herself wanted to leave...tired of the accusations, the hatred, and the cruel labels placed on her and her child.
Crying, she packed her belongings and left the house, her heart crushed by grief...especially by being separated from Zulou, who had been taken to Sanli's mother because Aunty could no longer care for him while tending to the sick Mama.
Aunty's crying did not stop after Jeidi left. And while everyone watched, Lee later demolished their mother's room and merged it with a new structure he had begun, claiming he was bringing a companion for Aunty so she would not be lonely.
Jeidi's departure shattered Aunty's life...and Jeidi's as well.
She left without knowing where she was going.
โกโกโก
๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ๐ค๐ง ๐ค๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐ค๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃ, ๐ฌ๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ข๐๐ฎ ๐๐. ๐ผ๐ข๐๐ฃ.
๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต 2007
7:26 a.m.
He was struggling to pull a pair of white socks onto the tiny feet in front of him, occasionally glancing toward the doorway to check the weather outside. The storm that had begun before dawn was still raging fiercely.
Seeing how frail the child looked in his arms...almost like someone unwell...he lifted his gaze to the beautiful little face staring back at him. Every time he was about to take him to daycare, the child reacted this way, clinging tightly just as he had done since he was old enough to understand.
The child knew no one except his father. He trusted no one else in the world...except his ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ข, whom he lovingly called ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐จ.
With the Child eyes filling with tears, he looked at the child and released a quiet sigh, pulling him closer to his chest. In a soft, steady voice filled with tenderness, he called,
"๐๐ข๐๐จโฆ"
Tears began to roll down the child's cheeks. He shook his head slightly, unable to speak clearly, and murmured,
"๐๐โฆ ๐๐โฆ"
Gently, he stopped him from saying more, knowing it would only turn into a struggle. The child simply did not want to go...and this had become routine since he first started taking him there.
He wiped away the tears, stood up, and picked up the small bag. Inside it was a bottle of water poured into an empty coca-cola bottle, along with a small cake and dumplings bought from the woman who sold food near their door.
He lifted the child into his arms, held the bag in his other hand, and stepped outside. He locked the door carefully and headed toward the exit.
Almost everyone living in the compound was already outside, preparing for the day in the shared courtyard.
As luck would have it, some of them met his exit with hostile stares. Others simply clicked their tongues and turned away.
๐๐๐ข๐ฃ๐ข'๐ฌ mother, however, never missed an opportunity. The moment she saw him, she approached with a wide smile.
"๐โ! ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ? ๐ถ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ก'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐โ ๐๐กโ๐๐."
She stretched out her hands to take the child.
Yibo clung tighter to his father, burying his face against his chest and squeezing his eyes shut. He did not want to look at her at all.
She laughed lightly and said, "๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐ฆ, ๐๐๐๐? ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐, ๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ."
"๐โ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข," the father replied quietly before moving past her, while she watched them walk away.
Her husband soon joined her, following them with his eyes before speaking sharply.
"๐๐ข๐ค๐๐, ๐คโ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐? ๐ด ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐ฆ, ๐ฆ๐๐ก โ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐'๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐. ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐ผ๐ โ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ . ๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฆ โ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐. ๐ด๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข....๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ก๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข, โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ."
She turned to face her husband angrily.
"๐๐ ๐๐ก'๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ผ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ก โ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ผ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ? ๐ผ๐ ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐, ๐ผ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐โ๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข...๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ โ๐๐๐๐ก โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐'๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐๐."
Furious, he glared at her.
"๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฆ โ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐? ๐ผ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐ข ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐กโ? ๐ด ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐...๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐กโ๐๐๐ โ๐ ๐ค๐๐'๐ก ๐ก๐๐๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ก? ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐'๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข. ๐ด๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐, ๐ฆ๐๐ก โ๐ ๐ค๐๐'๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐๐ข๐โ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ โ๐๐ ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ด๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐'๐ก ๐โ๐๐๐๐๐๐...๐๐๐๐ฆ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐กโ๐ฆ. ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ก โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก? ๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐โ๐ก, ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ โ๐ โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐?"
With deep irritation, Daiji's mother replied,
"๐โ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐คโ๐๐กโ๐๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐? ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ? ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฟ๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐๐ก. ๐บ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ฆ๐๐ข'๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐. ๐โ๐๐ก'๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ค โ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐๐? ๐ผ'๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก. ๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐'๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐กโ๐๐๐...๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐."
She clicked her tongue, turned away, and left him standing there, shooting him one last contemptuous look. She had no shame speaking to him however she pleased...after all, she was the one earning money to feed him.
As soon as they stepped out of the house, he headed straight for the main road. He did not put the child down at any point, especially now...he did not want him stumbling on the muddy ground or tripping over stones, since it was the rainy season.
Even when it was not the rainy season, he rarely ever set him down. From inside the house to wherever they were going, he always carried his son. That was why Yibo had grown deeply attached to his father. He trusted no one else, could not stay comfortably with anyone else, and clung to him completely. God had planted an extraordinary bond in the child's heart...a connection so strong that, from the moment he became aware of the world, his father became the most beloved presence in his eyes and his heart.
When Yuli first started caring for him, Yibo refused to stay with her whenever his father went out to work. Gradually, he began to tolerate her presence. Still, no matter how young he was, he always recognized his father immediately...even from a distance, just by the sound of his voice.
He took him straight to a small private school in the neighborhood. By the time they arrived, the school gatekeeper already knew him well, as he had been bringing his son there daily since Yibo was an infant. Now, Yibo was four years old.
With a welcoming smile, the guard stood up and greeted him.
"๐บ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐. ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
The guard looked at Yibo and laughed lightly.
"๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐ฟ๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ก๐ ๐๐ . ๐๐ข๐๐."
Yibo looked at him briefly, then tightened his grip around his father's neck, his eyes filling with tears as they always did at drop-off time.
๐๐๐๐ released a quiet, hidden sigh as he looked at his son with care. He gently loosened the child's arms and handed him over to Yuli, who had just arrived, calling Yibo's name with warmth and affection.
In a calm, composed voice, he greeted her.
"๐บ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ . ๐๐ข๐๐. ๐ผ โ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข'๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐."
"๐๐'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐. ๐ด๐๐ ๐๐๐๐...๐๐๐ โ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ค๐๐๐?"
"๐๐๐ , ๐ค๐'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐," he replied briefly, his gaze returning to Yibo. He gave him a soft smile...one meant for him alone.
With a gentle tone, he said, "๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐'๐ก ๐๐๐ฆ. ๐ผ'๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ฆ?"
Yibo nodded slowly and whispered,
"๐ท๐โฆ ๐๐โฆ"
Zhan turned to Yuli, took out some money, and handed her the child's bag along with it.
"๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ค. ๐ผ'๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐."
Yuli turned and walked inside with Yibo, playfully distracting him.
Zhan then took out another note and handed it to ๐ฑ๐๐๐๐๐, the gatekeeper, before turning to leave. Behind him, he could hear Jameel expressing his gratitude and praying that God would preserve little Yibo for them all.