𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐞 [ 𝚉𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚈𝚒 ] ☑

𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑡 - 11

Zhan entered his home with a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping under the weight of exhaustion. The dimly lit hallway felt unusually quiet, a stark contrast to the chaotic day he had endured. The demands at work had been overwhelming, leaving him drained both physically and mentally. As he kicked off his shoes and hung up his coat, he couldn't help but think about how late it had gotten. The clock on the wall read 9 PM, a reminder of how much time had slipped through his fingers today.

The thought of cooking dinner felt like an insurmountable task. He hadn't had the energy or patience to prepare a meal just for himself, especially at this hour. He glanced towards the kitchen, considering skipping dinner altogether, but a nagging thought stopped him in his tracks—Yibo.

He had asked Lusi, their neighbor, to look after Yibo for a while since he knew he’d be late. Zhan was certain Yibo must have already eaten dinner and was likely fast asleep by now. The boy was usually early to bed, especially when Zhan wasn’t around to keep him up. The image of Yibo, sleeping peacefully, brought a small, almost imperceptible smile to Zhan’s lips. At least one of them could rest without worry.

However, as Zhan stepped into the living room, the sight that greeted him shattered his assumption. There, on the sofa, lay Yibo, curled up like a child, his body contorted into an uncomfortable position. His head was resting awkwardly on the armrest, and his legs were bent in a way that made Zhan wince just looking at him.

"Oh no, he's going to wake up with a terrible backache," Zhan muttered to himself, shaking his head in disbelief. He approached Yibo quietly, careful not to startle him. "Yibo," he called softly, giving his shoulder a gentle shake. When Yibo didn’t stir, Zhan tried again, this time with a little more urgency. "Yibo, wake up."

But Yibo remained still, his breathing deep and even, as if nothing in the world could disturb his slumber. Zhan couldn’t help but marvel at how deeply the boy could sleep. It was almost as if Yibo had been running on empty, finally collapsing when his body could no longer keep up.

With a resigned sigh, Zhan decided to let him sleep a bit longer. He went to his own room, changed into a comfortable sweater and trousers, and returned to the living room, ready to rouse Yibo one last time before giving up.

This time, Zhan was more determined. He leaned down, shaking Yibo a little harder, hoping the movement would wake him. But instead of waking up, Yibo instinctively wrapped his arms around Zhan, pulling him down onto the sofa as if mistaking him for a pillow.

The sudden, unexpected embrace sent a jolt of shock through Zhan's entire body. For a moment, he was frozen in place, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. Yibo’s face was nestled against Zhan’s neck, his breath warm against his skin, and Zhan could feel the steady rise and fall of Yibo’s chest against his own. The closeness was intoxicating, stirring emotions Zhan had tried so hard to bury.

Despite himself, Zhan couldn’t ignore the feelings that surfaced. Desire, a primal and intense sensation, surged through him, catching him off guard. He had always been a man of control, keeping his emotions in check, but here, with Yibo so close, so vulnerable, that control began to slip.

Zhan’s mind raced with confusion. Why did he feel this way about Yibo, the boy who had caused him so much pain? Why did he want to hold him tighter, to kiss him, to explore the feelings he had kept hidden for so long? The conflict within him was almost unbearable.

"You’ve gone mad, Xiao Zhan," he muttered under his breath, frustration seeping into his voice. "You need a doctor."

Realizing that his thoughts were leading him down a dangerous path, Zhan quickly pushed Yibo away, trying to distance himself from the overwhelming emotions. He stood up abruptly, his face flushed with embarrassment and anger—anger at himself for feeling this way, and anger at Yibo for unwittingly provoking these feelings.