While Yibo put Jay and Judy to bed, the two of them insisting that their big brother put them to bed and read to them some more, Zhan stayed at the community center and still talked to Yibo's mother, who looked a little sad as the other mothers gathered their children and went home with them.

"It's not always easy when you see them walking with their children. My two sons are grown up and they don't need me anymore. Sometimes I feel empty you know? I always wanted to have more children but couldn't have any more. And now that Ana is expecting one more child, it's even harder for me." She said thoughtfully.

Zhan looked at her thoughtfully as well. "I'm not a wife and mother, and I can't put myself in your shoes. But I believe you when you say it's not easy for you. But you know what I think? You have sister wives and you say the children are all your children. No matter which mother gave birth to them. Why don't you join your sister wives once in a while and help them get the kids ready for bed and then put them to bed? You would have a meaningful task again and your sister wives would have a valuable support. Because I think with so many children, it is not always easy for them either. Especially when the husband and father, is mostly with his favorite wife and does not help them."

"So Yibo told you that I am the favorite wife?"

"Yes, he told me."

"It's not always easy for me either."

"That may be so. But it's not easy for the other women either. I don't know much about your faith or about polygamy in general. But I don't imagine it's easy either. Sharing the husband you love. Having many children and raising them almost entirely without a father. Or watching the other women have more children. For me, sharing the husband would probably be the worst. Knowing he's with another woman that night and they're sleeping with each other would make me furious with jealousy."

"The jealousy in our case is also a big problem. We all want to live like this because we are convinced of this faith and this life. Yet there is jealousy and envy."

"No wonder. You all love your husband. He's a great man, good-looking, and he loves his children very much."

"You're right. He loves his children. He loves them all very much. But did you know that he always calls Yibo his dream son?"

"No, I didn't know that."

"When Haikuan was born, he wasn't at home. He was at a continuing education program for his job. When he came home, his son was already there. A-Kuan was almost always asleep, and the bigger he got, the more it felt like he had already been born as an adult. He always wanted to be on his own. He could somehow never do much with his dad. The two got along great, but when it came to joint activities, they were fundamentally different and could never agree on anything. A-Kuan didn't feel like doing anything with his dad. His dad always thought he hated him. But it wasn't like that. At some point, A-Kuan said he just didn't know how to talk to his dad and that he didn't like his dad having other women besides his mom."

"I see."

"Well, and then I got pregnant again. I don't know why the other women hadn't gotten pregnant by then, but I had my second child. My husband was very excited. And because he had been promoted after his advanced training and had fixed working hours, he was able to be home much more often. He got to see much more of the pregnancy and experience it with me. When the day of the birth came, he was so excited that he practically raced to the birth center with me. It was two weeks before the due date and he was afraid something was wrong. He was driving really fast. And then all of a sudden the car broke down in the middle of the country road. We didn't have cell phones and the nearest emergency call box was miles away and no other car was coming. But the birth wouldn't wait, Yibo wanted out. So I laid down in the back seat in the car and explained to my husband what he needed to do. So not only was he there when Yibo was born, he got him out of me himself. After the birth, he held him crying in his arms. A police car happened to come by and they helped us. Well, I don't know if it's the fact that he helped give birth to Yibo, but the two have had a very close bond ever since. Yibo slept best when his dad held him in his arms. When he could crawl, he always crawled behind his dad. And when he could walk, he always walked behind him. When my husband was home, you could always hear, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy. Yibo was crazy about him. He did a lot of things with him, even when one of the other women had her first child."

"That's really sweet. I thought he was more of a mama's kid."

"He is, too. After his dad became a father a few more times, Yibo clung to me more and more. Still, he remained for his dad, the dream son."

"I see."

"Do you know why Jay is so crazy about Yibo?"

"Mhhh, because Yibo is a great brother."

"Haha, yeah that too. But they have a close bond too. Yibo helped his little brother come into the world. We were all on a trip. Only Ana stayed behind because she wasn't feeling well. And her big round belly made it difficult for her. I asked Yibo, who didn't want to go either, to check on her from time to time. And dutiful as he always was, he did. In the afternoon he went to her house to have tea with her. But when he got to her house, he found her lying in labor in her bed. Since she wanted a home birth anyway, since it was her third child, she refused to let Yibo call an ambulance. And she didn't want to spoil the trip either, so she asked Yibo to help her. So he helped her and helped deliver little Jay. After the birth, he washed, changed and dressed Jay. And because Ana was so exhausted and asleep, he held the little one in his arms the whole time until we came back. After that, he went to visit Jay every day. He would often bring the little one to stay with us. Sometimes a whole week at a time. Then he would take him back to his mother for two days and take him back to us. The little one always lay in bed with Yibo and clung to Yibo like a little monkey. His first word was Yibo. Ana always says that it often seems to her that Jay is not her child, but Yibo's. More specifically, she always says that Jay was meant for Yibo. Somehow it was always clear to all of us that Yibo would never marry a woman and have children of his own with her. And Ana said that maybe that's why she had Jay, so that Yibo would have a child. I know it sounds crazy. But we really believe that."

"It doesn't sound crazy at all. When I saw Yibo and Jay, even I realized in those few hours how close the bond is between them. And I think it's nice that they are so connected."

"I hope if this lasts with you two and maybe someday you have your own place, that you'll have Jay over often. The two of them, Yibo and Jay, no one should separate them. Yibo may have always said he could leave without regretting it, but you saw him today. And I know that he always says that because he doesn't want to live like we do. I heard him say to his big brother once that he wants to leave here because he's afraid he'll end up like we are."

"Well, he's only 19 years old and he wants to spread his wings. He may think right now that he doesn't need his family anymore. But eventually he'll understand. He's still young and wants to realize his dreams. And I am sure he will continue to be there for Jay. And someday, I'm sure he'll bring him over often, too. Him and I'm sure his other siblings too."

"I'm glad you're being so open with us. I was afraid you would reject us for living this way."

"I don't judge you for choosing to live this way. You do it voluntarily and no one forced you to do it. And you can tell that, despite jealousy, you care a lot about each other."

"It's getting late. I think you guys should sleep with us tonight. But because you two are not married yet, I must insist that you sleep in separate rooms." Said Yibo's father, who had just returned. He sat down next to his wife, kissed her forehead and smiled. "Sorry it took so long." He said softly to her.

Zhan could see the love between them. He could have even if he would have been blind. And he knows he feels the same for Yibo. And as he thought about it like that, the words Yibo's dad had just used came back to him. "Marriage?" He asked, confused.

"Yes. Even though you are a same-sex couple and it is not possible for you to officially marry in this country. So I still insist that you get married. We can hold a ceremony for you here and marry you off." Said Yibo's dad.

"Dad. We haven't been a couple for long. Then how can you talk about marriage already?" Asked Yibo, who had also come back and heard everything.

"Son! Even if you no longer live at home and reject our faith, I must insist!"

"But Dad! You can't ask Zhan to..."

"That's okay Yibo. It's true that we haven't been together long. But we know we don't want to break up anymore. And it's only right and proper to talk about the subject from your father. Besides, I think if we're going to stay together anyway, we might as well think about getting married." Said Zhan.

"You see my son? Zhan understands me. Why don't we invite Zhan's parents to join us? They could come here tomorrow afternoon, we'll have a barbecue together and talk about it. Then you can meet them at the same time. And who knows, maybe your brother will come too and finally introduce us to his boyfriend."

"His boyfriend is Zhan's brother." Said Yibo.

"All the better. We'll have a double wedding then." Suggested Yibo's mom.

Yibo didn't know what to say to that. He was speechless. Zhan, on the other hand, smiled and said, "Well, I like that idea."

Yibo looked at Zhan questioningly. "Are you sure that's what you want?"

"Yes. Or do you not want it?"

"Sure I do. I just don't want you to feel pressured into anything."

"I don't. I really love you very much and I can very well imagine marrying you. At some point, I would have proposed to you anyway. I knew that from the moment I fell in love with you. I saw you and knew you were the one for me."

"Awww ZhanZhan, you make my heart flutter with that. I love you very much too and of course I want to marry you. I just can't imagine my life without you."

"Well then, nothing stands in the way of marriage. Zhan, please invite your parents to join us and then we'll talk to them. But that's it for today. We'll go back to the house now, then we can watch a movie and then go to sleep. Zhan can sleep in your brother's room.

"But I want Zhan to sleep with me." Yibo protested.

"And then Jay will come to your room in the morning and find the two of you there? No!" Said Yibo's mom, winking at Yibo. Yibo immediately understood what she was trying to tell him and he nodded. He pretended to give in. But in reality, he will sneak to Zhan later when his parents are asleep.