Just like that, two months passed, a blur of days and nights, as Zhan continued to live with Yibo, despite his initial reservations. Yibo had insisted, his eyes pleading, his voice soft, “Please, Zhan ge, stay with me. I’m always lonely, and having you here is a luxury I never thought I’d have.” His words had been laced with a deep longing, a yearning that tugged at Zhan’s heartstrings. Zhan had relented, his heart touched by Yibo’s vulnerability, and so he remained, a constant presence in Yibo’s life.
As the days turned into weeks, Zhan grew accustomed to Yibo’s gentle nature, his kind heart, and his unwavering dedication. He began to see Yibo in a new light, as a person, not just a confidant, and their bond deepened, a slow-burning flame that warmed Zhan’s heart. Yibo’s smile, once a rare sight, now bloomed frequently, illuminating his face, and Zhan found himself captivated by its radiance.
The restaurant, once a source of contention, was now a symbol of Yibo’s generosity, transferred back to Zhan’s name, a gesture that spoke volumes of Yibo’s feelings. Zhan had been curious, his mind whirling with questions, but Yibo had avoided the topic, his eyes clouding over, his smile faltering. It wasn’t until Zhan met with Wen Chao, the arrogant businessman, that the truth came to light.
Wen Chao had briefed Zhan, his tone condescending, his words dripping with superiority, but Zhan had listened, his heart racing, as the story unfolded. He was relieved, a weight lifting off his shoulders, as he realized that Yibo’s actions had been legitimate, no hidden agendas, no deceit. That’s all that mattered, Zhan thought, as he walked away from the meeting, his heart lighter, his step buoyant.
And then, the news came, like a bolt of lightning, illuminating the dark skies. Heesung, Zhan’s ex-husband, had been arrested, his wrongdoings finally catching up with him. Zhan felt a sense of closure, a chapter closing, as he thought of the man who had once hurt him so deeply. He was grateful, his heart full, as he realized that he was now free, free to move on, free to explore his feelings, free to love again. The weight of his past lifted, Zhan’s gaze turned to Yibo, his heart filled with a newfound appreciation, his soul stirring with emotions he couldn’t quite name.
Zhan couldn’t deny it, the past few months had been a whirlwind of emotions, and his heart had become a canvas of conflicting feelings. Living with Yibo, once a mere acquaintance, had awakened a flutter in his chest, a sensation he couldn’t ignore. Yibo, whom he had always regarded as a younger sibling, a person he should protect and care for, had grown into a presence that stirred his heart in ways he couldn’t comprehend.
Every moment spent with Yibo was a revelation, a discovery of feelings Zhan had never acknowledged before. The way Yibo’s smile lit up the room, the way his eyes sparkled with mirth, the way his laughter echoed through the halls, all of it had become a symphony of emotions that left Zhan breathless.
Zhan was stuck, caught in a web of uncertainty, unsure of what these feelings meant or where they would lead. He couldn’t decipher the code of his heart, couldn’t understand why Yibo’s presence made his pulse race, why his touch sent shivers down his spine. All he knew was that he couldn’t deny it, couldn’t ignore the flutter in his chest whenever Yibo was near.
As he navigated this uncharted territory, Zhan’s mind was a maze of questions, his heart a battlefield of emotions. What did it mean to feel this way? Was it possible to love someone he had once considered a friend, a younger sibling? The answers eluded him, leaving Zhan stuck, suspended in a state of emotional limbo, unsure of what the future held, but certain that his heart would never be the same again.
Yibo, standing beside Zhan in the grocery store, reached for a jar of pasta sauce on the shelf, his eyes darting to Zhan’s profile as he waited for a response to his question. But Zhan’s gaze was fixed on him, his eyes locked onto Yibo’s face with an intensity that made Yibo’s cheeks flush a deep crimson. Yibo’s eyes dropped, his lashes fluttering as he stammered, “W-why are you looking at me like that?” His voice was barely above a whisper, his words trembling slightly.
