Fated Connections ZB1 Zhang Hao x Fem reader

Chapter 26: A Surprise Visit

It had been a few weeks since Y/N and Zhang Hao's last call. Zerobaseone was still in the thick of promotions, and Y/N had been swamped with work at the hospital. The balance of their relationship, while still strong, was proving to be more challenging than usual. They stayed in touch with short messages and quick calls when possible, but it wasn't the same as being together.

One evening, after an especially exhausting shift, Y/N walked into her apartment and collapsed onto the couch. She closed her eyes, feeling the weight of the day sink in. She missed Zhang Hao, more than she wanted to admit. The busyness of their lives made their time apart feel even longer.

As she was about to drift off to sleep, her phone buzzed on the coffee table. She reached for it, her eyes barely open, and saw Zhang Hao's name flash on the screen. Her heart leapt, and she quickly answered the call.

"Hey," she said, trying to sound less tired than she felt.

"Hey," Zhang Hao's voice came through, sounding unusually cheerful. "What are you doing right now?"

Y/N glanced at the clock. It was late, and she figured Zhang Hao was probably just finishing his own long day. "Just got home from work. What about you? Isn't it really late there?"

"Yeah, a little," he said, his tone playful. "I was just wondering... are you home?"

Y/N furrowed her brow, confused. "Of course I am. Where else would I be at this hour?"

There was a pause on the other end, and then she heard a knock at her door. Y/N sat up, her heart racing.

"Hold on," she said, walking toward the door. She opened it slowly, her breath catching in her throat when she saw who was standing there.

Zhang Hao, with a bouquet of flowers in hand and a bright smile on his face, was leaning casually against the doorframe.

The reunion:

Y/N blinked, completely stunned. "Zhang Hao? What... how...?"

Before she could finish her sentence, Zhang Hao stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. Y/N melted into his hug, feeling the warmth of his body against hers.

"I missed you," Zhang Hao murmured into her hair. "I couldn't wait any longer, so I asked for a couple of days off and came here."

Y/N pulled back slightly, looking up at him with wide eyes. "You're really here? How did you...?"

Zhang Hao laughed softly, holding her close. "I took the earliest flight I could after we wrapped up our last performance. I wanted to surprise you."

Y/N couldn't stop the smile spreading across her face. She hadn't realized just how much she had missed him until he was standing right in front of her. "I can't believe you're here."

"Well, believe it," Zhang Hao teased gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I've been planning this for a while. I wanted to give you a proper break from everything."

Y/N laughed, feeling a rush of emotions she hadn't been expecting. "You're incredible. I've missed you so much."

Zhang Hao stepped inside, setting down his bag and the flowers on the table. Y/N closed the door behind him, still in disbelief that he was really there. The exhaustion she had felt just minutes ago was completely gone, replaced by the pure joy of seeing him again.

"I brought some snacks," Zhang Hao said, grinning as he pulled out a small box from his bag. "Figured we could have a little snack night, just the two of us."

Y/N smiled, her heart swelling with affection. "That sounds perfect."

They spent the next few hours catching up on everything that had happened in the past few weeks. Zhang Hao shared stories about their comeback stages, the behind-the-scenes chaos, and how much he had missed her. Y/N, in turn, told him about her work at the hospital and how she had been coping with their time apart.

As they sat on the couch, sharing snacks and laughing together, it felt like no time had passed at all. Being with Zhang Hao made everything feel lighter, easier. They didn't need to do anything extravagant to enjoy each other's company; just being together was enough.

As the night wore on, Y/N found herself leaning against Zhang Hao's shoulder, her eyes growing heavy. Zhang Hao noticed her tiredness and gently pulled her closer, wrapping an arm around her.

"You've had a long day," he said softly. "You should get some sleep."

Y/N shook her head, stifling a yawn. "I don't want this night to end."

Zhang Hao smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "It doesn't have to. I'm here for a few days, remember? We'll have plenty of time."

Reluctantly, Y/N nodded, knowing he was right. She leaned her head against his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing. It was comforting, grounding, to have him there with her.

"I'm so glad you're here," Y/N whispered, her voice sleepy.

Zhang Hao held her closer, his voice low and soothing. "Me too. I'll always come back to you, Y/N. No matter how far apart we are."

Y/N smiled, her eyes closing as she finally let herself relax. In that moment, with Zhang Hao's arms around her, everything felt perfect.

As she drifted off to sleep, Zhang Hao stayed awake a little longer, watching her with a soft smile on his face. He had missed her more than he could put into words, and being with her now made all the late nights and long flights worth it.

For the first time in a long while, Zhang Hao felt at peace. And as he eventually closed his eyes, he knew that no matter how busy their lives got, they would always find their way back to each other.