Since Yibo returned to his room and lay down, he felt incredibly restless. He couldn't pinpoint exactly what was bothering him. He kept tossing and turning in bed. Eventually, he sat up, slid off the bed, and knelt by its side, resting his head against the mattress. He stayed like that for over twenty minutes before the door opened and Zhan walked in, carrying a bottle of water and Yibo's medication.
Zhan glanced at him, gave a small smile, and then looked away as he approached. "Is this how you're sleeping tonight?" he asked.
Yibo said nothing and didn't look up either. Zhan gently lifted him, turning him to face him. Seeing the tears brimming in Yibo's eyes, Zhan's smile faded, and he asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
Yibo still didn't speak. Zhan laid him back down on the bed and asked again, "Is your leg hurting?"
Still, Yibo remained silent. Zhan stood up, grabbed the heating lotion, dimmed the room lights until it was barely lit, and then sat by his side, gently massaging his legs. Yibo closed his eyes, and seeing this, Zhan smiled softly as he continued.
After some time, Zhan leaned closer and whispered against Yibo's skin, "Anywhere else hurting?"
Without opening his eyes, Yibo nodded.
Zhan turned him over, lifted his pajama top, and began massaging the heated lotion onto his back carefully. He worked gently, his hands slow and steady, easing the tension. After a while, he turned Yibo back around and asked, "Feeling any better?"
Yibo slowly opened his eyes and gazed up at him. Zhan smiled and lightly pinched his nose. "Sleep well, lil bro. Goodnight."
Just as Zhan made to stand, Yibo suddenly grabbed him .... and then broke into tears. Alarmed, Zhan widened his eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked urgently.
Yibo sat up and clung to him, trembling with quiet sobs. Zhan closed his eyes and whispered, "Tell me what's going on."
Yibo remained silent, only breathing heavily against him. Zhan could smell the soft scent of Yibo's hair filling his senses. He tightened his arms around him and whispered, "I need to sleep too, Yibo. I have work tomorrow."
But Yibo refused to let go, pressing even closer, and the feeling stirred something deep in Zhan. No matter how much he told himself to stay calm, he found himself giving in, treating Yibo with tenderness and care he hadn't planned....Surprisingly, Yibo responded without hesitation ... completely trusting him. By the end, Zhan himself was overwhelmed, and that night remained forever etched in his memory.
Around 2 AM, Yibo woke up with a pounding headache. He carefully pulled away from Zhan, sat up, and wrapped the blanket tightly around himself. Suddenly, he felt a deep wave of embarrassment. Memories of Zhan's soft whispers returned to him, making his face flush. Yibo sat there frozen, not even blinking starring at zhan, until suddenly, Zhan pulled him back into his arms, hugging him tightly and murmuring near his ear, "Why are you staring at me, baby?"
Embarrassed, Yibo shut his eyes tightly and hid his face against Zhan's chest, as if Zhan couldn't see him anymore. Zhan chuckled softly and stroked his hair until Yibo drifted back to sleep in his arms.
Since Zhan returned home after his morning exercise, he stayed mostly in his bedroom. Meanwhile, Yibo went into the kitchen after boiling hot water. Seeing that it was already past seven o'clock, Yibo headed upstairs.
Yibo stood silently by the door to Zhan's sitting room for a few minutes before slowly entering. He went straight to Zhan's bedroom but didn't see him. Hearing the sound of water, he realized Zhan was showering.
Yibo noticed an envelope on the dresser. Curious, he opened it and peeked inside, pulling out a document. His heart dropped when he saw that it was a medical scan with Ning Li's name on it.
Frozen, Yibo stared at it just as Zhan stepped out of the bathroom. Through the mirror, Yibo glimpsed him and quickly looked down.
Zhan approached quietly, wrapped an arm gently around him from behind, and whispered, "Baby…"
Yibo didn't respond. Zhan turned him around to face him and asked, "Want to come with me to the office today?"
Yibo shook his head.
Zhan folded the paper neatly and tucked it back into the envelope. "Alright, then pick out my clothes for me, please."
Yibo stayed silent. Zhan lifted his chin gently and asked again, "Did you hear me?"
"I don't know where your clothes are," Yibo muttered.
Zhan pointed toward the wardrobe. Zhan watched him as Yibo chose his clothes and he got dressed right in front of him, then sat to pull on his socks, chuckling. "Look at you, you made me late."
Yibo pouted. "Me?"
Zhan leaned over and gave him a light kiss on the lips while holding his hand. "Of course, lil one."
Yibo lowered his head shyly. Zhan stood, pulled him up, and asked, "What are you having for breakfast?"
"I'll cook some noodles later," Yibo said.
Zhan frowned. "Noodles aren't healthy for you… or for our baby," he teased gently. "Come on, walk me to the car. I'll come back around noon to see my baby before heading out again."
Yibo frowned. "But what about breakfast?"
"I'll eat at the office," Zhan replied.
"But I boiled hot water for you and there's bread," Yibo insisted.
Zhan's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
Yibo nodded. Zhan grinned. "Then let's eat together."
At the dining table, Zhan said, "Or should I fry some eggs and toast the bread? We've got jam and butter."
"You can cook?" Yibo teased.
"Uhm," Zhan smirked.
Together, they went to the kitchen. Zhan stood behind Yibo, watching as he fried the eggs and toasted the bread. When Yibo was done, Zhan rested his forehead gently against Yibo's. "Please always be like this with me, Yibo. I want to stay with you forever. You have no idea how much you mean to me, lil one. Right now, we look like a real couple. Please stop pushing me away. One day, you'll understand what I mean."
But instead of feeling happy, Yibo's heart grew heavier. It hurt that Zhan spoke only about being together, but never about love.
Lowering his eyes to hide the tears, Yibo leaned into Zhan's chest. Zhan hugged him tightly, inhaling his sweet scent, and closed his eyes, overwhelmed by emotions and a desire so deep he had never once felt....not even for Ning Li, not even when she tried.
They had breakfast together, even though Yibo didn't eat much. He walked Zhan to the car as he requested, then returned inside and locked the house before heading to his room. As soon as he lay down, the exhaustion he had been fighting finally pulled him into sleep.
Yibo woke up around eleven. Without wasting time, he took a shower, got dressed, sprayed some cologne, and began tidying up his bed. He suddenly heard his door open, and startled, he looked up ...it was Zhan, Yibo pouted and sat down, saying, "You scared me."
Zhan walked further into the room, smiling, as he took off his necktie and approached Yibo. He said playfully, "Scared? You act like you're not my precious boy, baby."
Yibo pouted, and Zhan sat beside him, giving him a side hug while smiling warmly at him. In a soft voice, he said, "You look really good today, hubby. You know, I couldn't stop thinking about yesterday while I was at the office."
Yibo didn't look at him or say a word. Zhan leaned closer and whispered into his ear, "Tell me, who taught you that? I need to thank them properly."
Yibo buried his face in Zhan's shoulder, whining, "I don't like it, Gege."
Zhan gently laid him down on the bed and lay beside him, murmuring, "Oh, but you're going to love it now... we need to relive that wonderful moment again..."
It wasn't until nearly 3 p.m. that Zhan left to return to the office. Yibo, meanwhile, was fast asleep after Zhan left him some lunch in the room.
At 4 o'clock, Yibo slowly woke up, blinking his eyes open. Realizing Zhan wasn't beside him, he sat up. Noticing a piece of paper by the pillow, he picked it up and unfolded it. It was a handwritten note from Zhan:
"God bless you, dear. I'll be back later. I care..."
Yibo pouted as he set the note aside, feeling a dull ache in his back. He climbed down from the bed and headed into the bathroom.
Around 5 p.m., Zhan returned, carrying a big new phone .... the same kind Sen Wen once bought for Suyue. Yibo was in the kitchen blending ingredients when he heard the door open.
Yibo peeked into the sitting room, and their eyes met. Zhan spread his arms wide with a smile. Yibo just shrugged at him. Zhan chuckled softly, saying, "Alright then," before heading upstairs. Yibo watched him go.
After pulling some meat out of the deep freezer, Yibo went upstairs too. He quietly opened the door to Zhan's sitting room and snuck in toward the bedroom, which was left ajar.
He found Zhan undoing the buttons of his shirt. Without thinking, he walked into the room and climbed onto the bed. Closing his eyes, Yibo whispered in a low voice, "Welcome back, Gege."
Zhan turned around, drawing Yibo into his arms...
(That unfinished meal Yibo had started earlier had to wait .... Zhan had other plans.)
Later, Yibo sat by the mirror, watching Zhan after they finished their intimate session. Zhan stood up and said, "Let's go out and grab something to eat."
Yibo protested, "I was just about to cook."
Zhan shook his head. "No, I don't want you stressing yourself anymore. Let's just go pick something up at a diner."
Without giving Yibo a chance to argue, he grabbed his hand and pulled him up. Zhan then picked up the shopping bag he had brought home earlier and handed it to Yibo with a fond look.
Yibo stared at the bag, then opened it ... his eyes widened as he saw what was inside. He immediately hugged Zhan tightly, exclaiming, "Wow! Thank you so much, Gege!"
Zhan closed his eyes, smiling. "You're welcome, sweet."
Yibo pouted and frowned, "Don't called me sweet, I didn't like it... stop teasing me "
Zhan laughed, replying, "Oh, earlier you thought I was joking, but from now on, I'll keep calling you sweet."
Yibo shook his head. "I really don't like it."
Zhan lifted him like a baby and said, "Fine, then I'll call you Honey instead."
Yibo burst out laughing and hugged him tightly. "I don't like that either!"
Zhan kissed his nose gently and said, "Alright, let's go. When we get back, you can open your new phone."
With that, he grabbed his car keys and led Yibo out of the room.
Zhan bought them a delicious meal with grilled chicken. As they returned, while sitting in the car, Zhan's phone ... which was lying next to him ... started ringing. Both of them glanced at the screen.
When Yibo saw "Ning Li" flashing on it, he quietly looked away toward the window.
After a few seconds, Zhan picked up the call and put it on hands-free.
"Hello?" he said.
Instead of replying immediately, Ning Li spoke in a weak voice, "Doctor, I'm craving chicken. I've been throwing up all morning and haven't had any appetite. Now I'm really craving spicy chicken. I hope I'm not bothering you..."
Zhan said, "Okay."
"And please, make sure it's extra spicy," she added.
"Alright."
"And maybe bring me fresh milk and a shawarma too, in case I want to eat a little more"
"I got it," he said before ending the call.
He glanced at Yibo, who was staring out the window. Reaching for Yibo's hand gently, Zhan said, "Sweet, let's pick up what she needs before we head home."
Yibo stayed silent for a moment before finally nodding.
Zhan bought everything Ning Li requested and drove to her house. Once at the gate, he called her phone. When she answered, he said, "I'm outside. Send someone to collect the things."
After ending the call, he turned to look at Yibo, who was leaning against the car seat.
Soon the gate opened, and Ning Li stepped out. Yibo watched her through the window....the bright lights outside made it easy to see her thin figure. She had clearly lost a lot of weight, and her eyes looked tired.
When Zhan saw her come out, he opened the car door to step out, but Ning Li quickly opened the side door where Yibo was sitting. Their eyes met, and Ning Li immediately turned away, clearly not expecting to see them together. Yibo also looked away. Zhan stepped forward and handed her the bag he was holding. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
She greeted him quietly. Zhan replied, "Get well soon. Take care," then climbed into the front seat and started the car, leaving Ning Li standing there watching them.
The entire night, Zhan could tell that something was wrong with Yibo. He refused to eat and didn't touch the dinner brought for him. Though Zhan tried to let him be, he never fall asleep, Yibo couldn't sleep either. Late in the night, after Yibo had finally fallen asleep, Zhan gently pulled him into his arms, and only then managed to drift off himself.
▫️▪️🔹
For nearly a week, Yibo kept avoiding Zhan, refusing to let him even touch him. Zhan was extremely worried; after just two days of closeness, he had realized he couldn't bear being apart from him. He found Yibo's jealousy surprising....it was overwhelming. He had never known jealousy could be so intense. Even when Ning Li had shown jealousy over Yibo back then, it hadn't compared.
Still, Zhan didn't give up. He kept trying to coax him gently, because Yibo had a rare kind of sweetness. He was unlike anyone else.
One evening, Yibo was folding his shirt when Zhan entered the room after work. Yibo quickly looked away and put the shirt down. Zhan approached him gently, sat beside him on the bed, and said pleadingly, "Come on, Yibo, why are you doing this to me?"
Frowning, Yibo asked, "What did I even do?"
Zhan sighed and sat closer. "Please don't be upset. Why are you so jealous over Ning Li? She's not my wife or girlfriend....she never has been. There's no relationship between us. It's just my responsibility to take care of her and the baby until she gives birth. That's all."
Tears welled in Yibo's eyes. "But you're taking responsibility... That means you believe the child is yours. I thought she was lying just to get close to you, but now I see... you really cheated on me with her."
Zhan immediately cut in, "To be honest, I don't even know for sure. But what I can tell you is, I never knowingly slept with her. Maybe a few days before your marriage to Sen Wen, she took advantage of me. I was drunk almost every night, totally wasted from the heartbreak. I'm sorry, Yibo, please believe me."
Yibo fell silent, deep in thought. It was possible. Knowing Ning Li's obsession with Zhan, it wasn't hard to imagine. Yibo knew Zhan better than anyone. He had always been good at controlling himself; even after they married, Zhan hadn't even kissed him until much later.
Pouting, Yibo said, "So now you'll keep visiting her whenever she wants? She'll keep pretending she needs something just to see you?"
Zhan laughed warmly, hugging him tightly. "From now on, I won't go see her anymore, I promise. If she needs anything, I'll have it delivered. Once she gives birth, we'll bring the baby home. That'll be it...no more connection between us."
Still trembling slightly, Yibo said, "It's not like we go everywhere together every day, so how will I know if you really stop seeing her? I still think she's lying..."
Zhan gently covered Yibo's mouth with his own, closed his eyes, and pulled him even closer, showering him with reassurances.
Later that morning, Zhan slowly opened his eyes to find Yibo still clinging tightly to him. Smiling, he stroked Yibo's hair and whispered into his ear, "Time to wake up, sweet..."
Yibo slowly opened his eyes, pouting. "Stop calling me 'sweet" he mumbled.
Zhan chuckled. "Of course. You're my sweet boy."
That Saturday morning, Zhan finished some work on his laptop while Yibo was still fast asleep. Seeing it was nearly 10 a.m., he stood up and headed to Yibo's room. Sitting beside him, he gently touched his face to wake him. Yibo frowned and muttered sleepily, "Gege" Zhan smile "You didn't allow me to sleep yesterday, now you run to your room to sleep, huh?"
Yawning, he sat up and rubbed his eyes. Zhan smiled and said, "We're going out today, remember? I told you yesterday."
Yibo grumbled, "Alright," and Zhan left the room to get ready.
Yibo quickly threw on a simple outfit, sprayed a bit of cologne, and stepped out of the room with a scrunched-up face. He only drank tea and ate nothing. Zhan, also dressed casually, grabbed his car keys, took Yibo's hand, and said, "Let's go."
Once they got on the highway, Zhan glanced at him and said, "We'll head to Tianjin first, then back home, alright?"
"Okay," Yibo replied softly.
Careful not to let Yibo notice, Zhan had earlier hidden the envelope containing Ning Li's scan results in a spot he couldn't see. As they drove toward Tianjin, Yibo soon dozed off. Seeing how tightly he curled up, Zhan turned off the air conditioning to keep him warm.
When they arrived, Zhan parked quietly and gently tapped Yibo's nose. "Sweet... wake up," he said in a soft voice.
Yibo slowly opened his eyes and looked at him. Zhan smiled and said, "We're here." Yibo glanced around sleepily as Zhan got out of the car, walked around, and opened the door for him.
His sisters, who hadn't yet returned to Beijing, were delighted to see Zhan. However, none of them paid much attention to Yibo....only Yu, who happened to be visiting, greeted him properly. Yibo bowed politely after greeting her and sat quietly on a chair.
Soon, Yichen (their mother) came down the stairs and greeted Zhan warmly. "Welcome back."
"Good to see you, Mom," Zhan replied.
Yibo stood respectfully and bowed slightly. "Good afternoon, Shengjie," he said politely.
Yichen looked at him and asked, "How is everything?"
"Fine," Yibo said quietly without lifting his head.
She nodded and sat down, chatting with Zhan about his work while Yu went to the kitchen to get drinks. Yu looked much thinner these days, still struggling with personal pain that showed clearly in her face. She brought Zhan a soda and water, and then handed Yibo his drink.
"Thank you Jie," Yibo said quietly.
Yu smiled and returned to her seat.
After a while, Yichen excused herself and went upstairs. Zhan watched her go, then turned toward his sisters, noticing how they still treated Yibo coldly. He stood and headed to the kitchen to speak to them about it.
Meanwhile, Yibo, feeling tired, rested his head on the chair but stayed awake. Five minutes later, he suddenly felt nauseous from the aroma wafting from the kitchen. Panicking, he stood up, covering his mouth, and tried to head outside.
Yu, who had just come out of the kitchen with Zhan, gasped. "What's happening?"
Before Yibo could reach the door, he doubled over and vomited violently right there on the floor.
Yu rushed over and crouched beside him. "Are you okay? Are you sick?" she asked worriedly.
Zhan couldn't move at first, frozen in shock. Yichen, hearing the commotion, came running downstairs and hurried over. "What's going on?" she asked anxiously.
Yu quickly explained, "He's throwing up!"
Yichen bent down beside Yibo, gently supporting him as he continued to vomit. Zhan finally hurried over as Yu rushed to fetch water. All the while, Yichen kept murmuring soothing words to comfort Yibo.
Only after Yibo stopped retching did Yichen help him upstairs, with Zhan quietly following behind.
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛