As morning dawned, Zhan slowly stirred from his slumber, his eyes fluttering open to greet the unfamiliar surroundings. He lay still, taking a moment to orient himself, his gaze sweeping the room in a gentle arc. The soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains illuminated the cozy space, and Zhan’s foggy mind gradually cleared.
Recognition dawned as he took in the familiar contours of Xuan Lu’s guest room. Memories of the previous night’s events came flooding back, and his heart sank. He had broken down, utterly and completely, in front of Yibo. The shame and vulnerability he felt made him want to hide under the covers forever.
With a soft sigh, Zhan laid back down, feeling the weight of his emotions bearing down on him. That’s when he noticed the soft breaths coming from beside him. He turned his head, his eyes locking onto Yibo’s peaceful form. Yibo was seated on the floor, his head resting on the bed beside Zhan, fast asleep.
Zhan’s gaze drifted to the bedside table, where a bowl of water and a cloth lay. A faint memory tickled the edges of his mind, and he wondered if he had developed a fever during the night. But his memories of the previous evening were hazy, and he couldn’t quite recall.
Just then, as if on cue, Zhan felt a sudden tickle in his nose, and he sneezed lightly. The sound was barely audible, but it was enough to rouse Yibo from his slumber.
Yibo’s eyes snapped open, and he sat up with a start, his gaze locking onto Zhan’s face. He hurriedly reached out, his hand brushing against Zhan’s forehead, checking his temperature. A look of relief washed over Yibo’s face as he found it normal, and he breathed out a soft sigh.
“Good morning,” Yibo whispered, his voice gentle, his eyes filled with concern.
Zhan’s lips curved into a slight smile as he gazed at Yibo, his eyes still heavy with sleep. “I thought you went back last night,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, the words laced with a hint of vulnerability.
Yibo shook his head, his eyes filled with a deep warmth and compassion. “I couldn’t leave you, not yet,” he replied, his voice low and gentle, the words spoken with a sense of conviction. He reached out, his hand brushing against Zhan’s arm, offering comfort and reassurance.
Zhan’s smile grew, and he whispered a soft “thank you” before Yibo assisted him in getting off the bed. Yibo’s hands were gentle, his touch supportive, as he helped Zhan find his footing.
“Go have a bath first, I’ll wait for you downstairs,” Yibo instructed, his hands guiding Zhan towards the bathroom door. His voice was calm, soothing, and Zhan nodded, his eyes still locked onto Yibo’s, before he turned and disappeared into the bathroom.
Yibo made his way downstairs, the sound of laughter and video games growing louder with each step. He found Jingyi and Huaisang engrossed in a heated gaming session, their voices as loud as ever, their faces lit up with excitement. He cleared his throat, announcing his presence, and the two gamers turned to face him, their expressions sheepish.
Jingyi, the sassy one, raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eye. “You’ve finally woken up? How’s Zhan ge?” he asked, his voice teasing, but laced with concern.
Yibo smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, his expression warm. “He’s awake and fine,” he replied, his voice calm, reassuring.
Huaisang chimed in, his face lighting up with a smile. “Mm, breakfast is ready. Xuan Lu Jie went out to get some drinks just a few blocks away.” His voice was enthusiastic, and Yibo’s stomach growled in response.
Yibo’s gaze swept the room, noticing that someone was missing. “And Haikuan?” he asked, his brow furrowing slightly, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Jingyi shrugged, his expression nonchalant. “Pretty gege said he had some important things to do since you’d be busy with boss, so he had to go back. He’s your assistant, after all.” His tone was matter-of-fact, but Yibo detected a hint of amusement.
