The Substitute Bride - Yizhan

Chapter Fifteen 💐

Mrs. Lan brought Zhan to the family room. The area is bright and open, featuring a grand French door that stretches nearly from floor to ceiling, opening up to the lanai. From this room, he has a lovely view of the swimming pool and the backyard garden.

There is a flatscreen TV paired with a stereo system. Right in the middle is an overstuffed single sofa, and parallel to it is a comfortable and large sofa bed. In the center, a large coffee table shows a stunning flower arrangement in an elegant vase.

From the drawer of an antique chest, Mrs. Lan took out a large album.

"Although I truly want you to look at these pictures, Zhan," said Mrs. Lan as she took a seat on the sofa bed, she motioned for him to sit next to her. "I only came up with that excuse so we could have some time alone," she put the album in the space between them.

Zhan nodded slowly, he had already guessed it.

"Is this about Yibo and me that we will be talking about, Mrs. Lan?" he asked the obvious. He was ready to accept her rejection, which she couldn't show in front of Yibo. But, what she said next caught Zhan completely off guard.

"From now on, you can call me 'Mom,' Zhan And yes, it's about you and Yibo that I want to talk to you about." She paused briefly, searching for the right words. "First, I'm curious about how my son managed to convince you to marry him..."

He avoided her gaze. "I tried to explain it to Yibo until yesterday. He wouldn't see reasons. I'm sorry."

"Oh, don't be, Zhan," said Mrs. Lan. "I am glad you agreed to marry my son."

Zhan was slightly surprised, but he maintained his calm demeanor. "He... is very persuasive. He left me with no choice."

"Yes. Yibo could be persuasive if he wanted to. One of the reasons why my son was a successful businessman even at a young age of twenty-four when he had just finished his masters. He takes after his father." Mrs. Lan's voice was full of pride.

Zhan looked at the older woman levelly. "How... how could you have agreed to this wedding so easily? I mean, I am a boy and about Zhou Fei, what will others think -" She cut off what he was about to say. "I completely agree with my son when he said that it is only right for him to find another one after what she did and it doesn't matter if you...-"

It was his turn to cut Mrs. Lan's words. "But you can't allow him to marry me just to spite Zhou Fei!" Zhan groaned silently, he had this tiring argument yesterday with Yibo.

"Don't feel like you're being used to spite Zhou Fei, Zhan. Yibo doesn't want his father and I don't see things that way. Because we made him understand that matter ourselves."

"Yeah," he said drily. "Yibo wanted to use a subtle term, What should be the correct term, I wonder? Proxy bride? Substitute bride?" He gave a small self-mocking smile.

throat before continuing, "Something has happened between the two of you. That he seduced you. That you had no experience. "That he can't turn his back on you. On that matter, my husband and I agree. What if what happened between you bears fruit? You didn't even use protection, did you?"

His face turned red, and before he could respond, she continued. "Oh, well, both of you mustn't have planned that. My son caught you off guard, and I don't want to have an illegitimate grandson, Zhan."

Zhan groaned in frustration and embarrassment.

"What happened between the two of you cemented his decision to marry you. My son is a very responsible person, Zhan. And, your willingness to marry him saved us from another scandal. Yes, there are explanations to be made. But scandal is another matter. I already explained to our friends before why Yibo and Zhou Fei's wedding didn't push through. I'd prefer not to go through it again, and be embarrassed for the second time."