Slow update until I finish "The Drama Of Us." 🙂
Story Background
Xiao Yun, a native of Baima, Chongqing, was a man shaped by traditions and beliefs held by some who failed to grasp the true essence of family responsibilities. Whether due to ignorance or sheer selfishness, he lived his life with little regard for the well-being of those who depended on him.
People often referred to his household as The Never-Ending Arrival, a nickname inspired by his relentless cycle of marriages and divorces. He had a reputation for taking wives only to discard them when he pleased. Over the years, he married at least ten women, most of whom bore him children before either leaving or passing away.
Xiao Yun had nearly twenty-five children, many of whom were left to fend for themselves. His home was filled with abandoned kids, each from different mothers, some of whom had only given birth to one child before vanishing from the chaotic household. Among them was Zhan, his mother's only child, making him unique in a house full of half-siblings.
Despite the overwhelming number of children, Xiao Yun never provided for them. He neither ensured they had food, shelter, nor proper clothing. Education was out of the question. In truth, he barely even acknowledged their existence. Each child had to survive on their own, as their father had no interest in their upbringing.
Yet, oddly enough, despite his reckless lifestyle, women continued to marry him. Whether blinded by his charm and beauty or desperate for companionship, they willingly entered his household, only to suffer the same fate as those before them. Whenever he set his sights on a woman....whether a young maiden or a widow....he wasted no time in securing her, even if it meant borrowing money to win her over.
Each new wife enjoyed a fleeting period of happiness during her early days in the marriage, believing she had found a secure place. But once that illusion faded, she became just another figure in the background, struggling to survive like the rest. Some endured for the sake of their children, others left before giving birth, only to return later with the child in tow.
Out of all his wives, only two managed to withstand life with Xiao Yun.
The first was Fenghua, his third wife. She had several children and was resourceful enough to build a small business, allowing her to support herself and her kids without relying on Xiao Yun. In fact, she even helped some of the other children when she could. At times, even Xiao Yun benefited from her earnings, creating a strange dynamic between them. Because he occasionally depended on her, there was no real respect between them. They often clashed, their heated arguments filling the house, with neither side backing down. Yet, despite their constant fights, she remained in his home, watching as he continued his endless cycle of marrying and discarding women.
The second woman who endured life with him was Yunjun. But unlike Fenghua, Yunjun was different. She wasn't just another wife....she was the only woman Xiao Yun ever truly loved. Even after her passing, he still longed for her.
Yunjun had been everything Xiao Yun was not. She was kind, patient, and dignified, never once raising her voice at him, no matter how cruel he was. She had loved him despite the vast differences between them—differences in upbringing, status, and wealth. Coming from a well-off family, Yunjun had grown up surrounded by privilege. Her father was a respected businessman, known for his integrity and generosity. Despite her family's wealth, she chose Xiao Yun over the many rich and influential suitors who sought her hand.
Her father, though hesitant, eventually gave his blessing, not because he approved of Xiao Yun, but because he trusted his daughter's decision. She and her sister were the only children he had, and yet he let her marry a man far beneath her station.
Life with Xiao Yun was anything but easy, but Yunjun never complained—not even to her parents. She endured every hardship in silence, even when her sister, Anu, protested against the way Xiao Yun treated her.
Anu despised Xiao Yun for how he mistreated Yunjun. Unlike her sister, she had no patience for his ways. Whenever she visited, she never stayed long, refusing to spend more than a few hours in his presence. She often argued with him, making it clear she wanted nothing to do with him.
"You think you can break the bond between me and Yunjun?" Xiao Yun would sneer at her.
"If I could, I would've done it long ago. You wouldn't still have her by your side," Anu would fire back.
And so, life in Xiao Yun's household continued—chaotic, unforgiving, and filled with untold struggles.
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Yunjun's first child was Zhan, a boy who stood out from the rest of his siblings. His differences were apparent from a young age, likely inherited from his mother's lineage. Yunjun's family had roots in both Chinese communities living in the wilderness and on mountain peaks, as well as a British ancestry through his maternal grandmother. On the other hand, Xiao Yun was also known for his striking features.
Zhan was unique in every way, even as a child. His habits, preferences, and personality set him apart. He was always clean, well-dressed, and carried himself with a sense of elegance. Yunjun, his mother, was a woman who valued cleanliness and style, always taking care of her appearance. She also had a steady income from the inheritance left by her father, including rental properties and other assets.
Anyone who looked at Zhan couldn't help but notice him. He was always well-groomed and carried a natural charm. His beauty was undeniable, making him stand out even more.
When Zhan was just six years old, tragedy struck—his mother, Yunjun, passed away. Despite his young age, he mourned deeply, surprising many with the intensity of his grief. His cries were heart-wrenching, drawing sympathy from everyone around him.
Among those most affected by Yunjun's death was her younger sister, Anu. She wept for days, unable to come to terms with the loss of her only sibling. At the time, her wedding was only months away, but there was nothing she could do. She had to accept reality, though the pain was unbearable.
Anu wanted to take Zhan into her care, but Xiao Yun was adamant—he refused to give up his son. The tension between them had always been there, but for the first time, Anu regretted their strained relationship. She wished she had handled things differently, if only to secure custody of Zhan. However, since she was unmarried and still living under someone else's care, her family did not support her decision. With no choice left, she had to let go, though the thought of leaving Zhan behind was devastating.
Despite Xiao Yun's hostility, Anu made frequent visits to see Zhan. She endured his mistreatment and insults just to ensure the child was taken care of. To her, Zhan was all that mattered.
At this point, Zhan wasn't facing extreme hardship yet, thanks to Anu's constant visits. She bathed him, dressed him in new clothes, bought him anything he desired, and made sure he ate well. She did this every day until her wedding finally took place.
However, after getting married, she could no longer visit as often. Instead of daily visits, she could only come once a week. It was then that she noticed a shift—Zhan wasn't receiving proper care from either his stepmother or his own father. Seeing this, she doubled her efforts to support him.
Her husband, recognizing her distress, suggested they officially take custody of Zhan. Once again, they approached Xiao Yun, pleading with him to let Anu raise the boy. But Xiao Yun refused outright. Even when Anu went as far as kneeling before him, begging him to reconsider, he remained firm.
Left with no choice, Anu continued looking after Zhan as much as she could. She remained by his side for several years, ensuring he had at least some stability. However, when Zhan turned fifteen, another major change occurred—Anu's husband's work required them to relocate to Brazil for six years.
The news devastated both Anu and Zhan. His distress was so profound that even Anu's husband, despite not being directly involved, tried to comfort them. Before they left, Anu made sure to prepare everything Zhan would need in their absence, hoping to ease his burden.
Unfortunately, Xiao Yun was a man driven by greed. Whatever provisions had been left for Zhan were quickly used up—everything he and his wife could get their hands on disappeared. The only thing that remained untouched was the school fees Anu had pre-paid for the remaining years of Zhan's education.
At this point, Zhan truly understood what it meant to be motherless. He felt the weight of Anu's absence deeply. In no time, his circumstances worsened. He had to sell some of his belongings, including clothes and other valuables, just to get by—though he wasn't the only one using them.
Zhan was a boy with a naturally kind heart. Despite his struggles, he couldn't ignore his younger siblings' suffering. Though they were all born to different mothers, he cared for them as if they shared both parents. If they were hungry, he would give up his own food. If they needed something, he would sacrifice his own needs. He often stayed up at night worrying about them, unable to sleep while they suffered.
But no matter how hard he tried, his efforts were never enough. He had no financial support, no job, and no way to provide for himself, let alone his siblings. With each passing day, his life became more difficult, and his teenage life was slipping away too quickly.
Before things became unbearable, Zhan started thinking about what kind of work he could do. He had nothing and no one to rely on, so he began doing laundry for others. When Xiao Yun realized what Zhan was up to, he flew into a rage, shouting that his house would not be turned into a place for washing rags. Even though the house itself was far from impressive and in desperate need of repairs due to its age, Xiao Yun refused to let Zhan work from there. Despite witnessing all of this, Zhan's stepmother, Fenghua, simply ignored it.
Eventually, Zhan found a job in a neighboring household, working for a woman in her forties named Ying Bao.
He would leave for work early in the morning and return late at night, sometimes even staying until ten or, on occasion, sleeping over. Whenever he got his wages, he would stop by home to hand over what little he had. His entire salary amounted to just 2,500 yuan, barely enough to cover his own needs, let alone support his younger siblings.
What troubled him most was seeing his siblings struggle in desperate conditions, knowing he had nothing to give them. This pushed him to work even harder. On days when there was no school in the morning, he helped Fenghua sell dumplings, as it was her main source of income. She used the money to feed and clothe herself and her children, and sometimes, if Zhan was lucky, she would give him a small share—only on days when she felt like it.
Fenghua was neither kind nor compassionate, especially when it came to money. She would go to any lengths to protect her earnings, refusing to lend a single cent. She would cook food but only allow those she chose—including her own children—to eat. If the others asked for food, she would snap at them, saying, "Your useless father didn't bring anything, so don't expect to eat for free. If you want food, bring money."
Zhan was always bewildered by her cruelty, and it pained him deeply. Whenever he returned home empty-handed and saw his siblings hungry, he felt helpless. If he had earned a little money that day, Fenghua would allow him to buy a meal, and they would all share it. If he hadn't, he was forced to take food on credit, promising to pay her back once he received his wages. Fenghua meticulously kept track of every meal he owed, ensuring he paid the moment he got his salary.
This was Zhan's life—the constant struggle of survival. How would he escape this fate?
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At exactly eight in the evening, Zhan walked slowly through the narrow alleyways of their neighborhood. The cold night air blew against him, making his thin, plastic-like shirt cling to his body. Time and hardship had worn out his clothes, reducing their original thickness by half.
His mind was elsewhere, lost in thought. He was so deep in contemplation that he paid no attention to those around him. His thoughts revolved around his siblings—he had left them at home all day. Had they eaten anything? Had Fenghua given them food, or had she been her usual self and let them go to bed hungry? Had they slept on empty stomachs, or had someone taken pity on them?
These were the worries that plagued him as he walked home from Ying Bao's house. Although their homes were in the same neighborhood, there was still a small distance between them—just enough to make him dread the moment he would step inside and face whatever awaited him.
Zhan wiped his handsome face, feeling the light snowflakes settling on his skin. It didn't bother him. He rarely looked at himself in the mirror, and when he did, it was only after a long hesitation. He had heard people talk about his good looks, but he never really stopped to see it for himself. He simply didn't have the time or interest for such things.
"Where are you coming from, young man?"
The voice came from behind him. His heart pounded hard in his chest, and even before turning around, he already knew who it was. He despised everything about this person. He wanted no connection with him, no association whatsoever. He especially hated the way the person treated him. Zhan had never considered himself part of the so-called important people in society, let alone someone who should be concerned with love.
To him, it was the greatest form of cruelty for another person to pressure him with words like love or affection.
He had never spoken about love—not even in his thoughts. Not to himself, not to anyone else. And honestly, who would he even discuss it with? He had no friends, no confidants, no one to talk to. The only people he had were his younger siblings, and even they were still struggling to understand their own lives, let alone his.
Even if Zhan had a chance at a privileged life or a strong support system, he still believed it was absurd for someone as young as fifteen to entangle himself in matters like this.
As he wrestled with these thoughts, he suddenly found himself face-to-face with Su Luo. He froze, his feet rooted to the spot. The moonlight, though dimmed by the thick fog, still managed to cast a faint glow over his striking features. Su Luo stared at him, taking in the quiet beauty of Zhan—the kind of beauty that settled into a person's heart, lingering there. Everything about Zhan was captivating, from his gaze to his walk, even his silence. Despite the poverty that weighed down on him, Su Luo often imagined that if Zhan had been born into wealth, his beauty alone would have caused quite a stir. With the right resources, he would shine in ways he couldn't now—not when hardship had dulled so much of what he could be.
Seizing the moment, Zhan quickly maneuvered around Su Luo, moving past him with remarkable speed. But Zhan had never been particularly fast, so it didn't take long for Su Luo to catch up. Zhan's heart pounded harder. He just wanted to get home, to leave this person and its troubles behind.
Near the entrance of his house, Xiao Yun sat alone on the doorstep. It seemed like his usual group of aimless companions wasn't around tonight. They were the type to gather with him every evening, wasting time in empty conversations, feeding off each other's bitterness.
"Zhan! Zhan, come here!"
The voice of his father broke through the silence, stopping Zhan just before he could disappear into the house.
Reluctantly, Zhan changed his course and approached where Xiao Yun was sitting. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Su Luo had found a hiding spot, keeping his distance after spotting Zhan's father at the doorstep.
Respectfully, Zhan knelt down before his father, his gaze fixed on the ground, staring at the dirt beneath him.
"I'm here, Baba."
Xiao Yun shifted in his seat, adjusting his hat, which had almost slipped off. He straightened his collar, as if preparing for an important conversation.
"Good," he muttered, his voice carrying a hint of irritation. "I was wondering if you had anything on you. I woke up today with nothing—absolutely nothing." He sighed heavily. "And that woman… the moment she saw me working on the new extension for the house, she decided to act up. She didn't even give me dinner."
A hard lump formed in Zhan's throat, threatening to choke him.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛