"The Forced Bond" (Yizhan) Mpreg.

7

The night of the wedding.

Yi sat Zhan down on the edge of his bed, she gazed at his face, which was red and puffy from crying. His nose, in particular, was noticeably red from the emotional turmoil. She sat beside him, her voice soft and filled with concern and motherly affection. Though her heart ached at the thought of parting from him, even if they would still live nearby, she gently said,

"Zhan, please stop stressing yourself over something that should bring you happiness. Everyone is celebrating your marriage, and you should too. Marriage is a blessing, and after all the struggles you’ve faced, you’ve finally achieved it. As your mother, I advise you not to let Mother or your Uncle Wen down, especially because of the deep love they have for you, which motivated this decision."

She paused before adding, "Do you think you can look Bei in the eye and tell her you don’t want the brother she loves most in this world? Put that thought aside, Zhan. Now, you have a husband who will respect you just as much as you will respect him. You’re partners now, bound by marriage, and you must grow together."

These words brought fresh tears of despair to Zhan’s eyes, streaming down as he sobbed quietly. Yi continued, her tone firm yet compassionate. "As your mother, I’m telling you to drop any talk of ending this marriage. If you dare to bring it up with anyone in Wang's family, you will know the full extent of my anger and disappointment. Please, Zhan, I beg you, accept this marriage with grace. Honor Wen's efforts—he has taken your wellbeing as his personal responsibility ever since your father’s passing.

"Wen has always treated you equally with his own children, and he deserves your obedience. He’s worried himself endlessly over the struggles surrounding your engagements. The least you can do is honor his wishes, even if it’s hard. Trust me, Zhan, this marriage can bring blessings and happiness if you give it a chance."

Dai Jie, who was present, added her own words of comfort. "Zhan, you’ve always been strong. I know this is hard, but marriage is a new chapter for you. Trust your family’s intentions and remember, they’ve always had your best interests at heart."

But Zhan, overwhelmed by grief, remained inconsolable, curling up in a corner of the bed. The endless stream of tears left those around him worried and heartbroken.

▪️▫️🔸🔹

Despite the emotional tension, the wedding festivities continued into the evening. Guests from far and near departed, leaving only close family members. Uncle Wen, noticing Zhan's distress, decided it was best to let him stay home for the night rather than risk anyone in Wang's family witnessing his current state.

"Let him stay and rest," Uncle Wen instructed. "I’ll inform Wang Han he will go back tomorrow. It’s better for him to go when he’s more composed."

And so, Zhan remained at home that night, still consumed by his sorrow, tears refusing to stop. His family watched over him, hoping he would find peace in time.

That night, Zhan stayed in Yi's room, refusing to see anyone due to his overwhelming shame about the marriage. His eyes were swollen from the tears he had cried throughout the night.

Bei, fully aware of the situation, didn’t visit. She had gone to her home last night with her husband and hadn’t called to check in. She had already heard from Dai Jie about Zhan's relentless sobbing, which only deepened her pity for him. Bei sympathized with his predicament—a sudden marriage to someone he had barely spoken five words to over the years. She also knew Yibo's cold and reserved nature, which only added to her concern for Zhan, as understanding someone like Yibo would undoubtedly take time.

By noon the next day, most of the guests had packed their bags and left. At Xiao's house, Qi and Guan were busy cleaning up after the celebration. By 4 p.m., the house was spotless, as if there had never been a wedding. If Uncle Wen hadn’t insisted that everyone disperse today, some guests might have lingered for another week.