Fifty-six

Yibo's Pov.

Zhan pulled into the garage and shut off the engine. We got out and headed for the front door. Zhan seemed to be caught in his thoughts the whole drive home. I guess the "surprise" really is something to be surprised about huh?

Zhan's hand stopped at the handle of the front door. I looked at him questioningly and he just sighed.

"Alright, prepare yourself." He warned, pulling open the door. I'm guessing he already knew what was coming. I spotted Jia sitting in front of an unrecognizable figure.

"Welcome home you two!" Jia beamed getting up from the couch. Now that Jia moved I could see the figure clearly. It was a mature looking girl who's appearance resembled that of Sarah's.

"Surprise!" Jia said, framing the girl in her flailing hands.

"Shit, I knew it." Zhan sighed again.

"Who is this?" I asked, looking between Jia and Zhan.

"My sister, Yanli." Zhan answered dully.

"I finally get to see my little brothers again." Yanli's voice rang out through the living room. Her voice was soft enough not to be jarring, at least not as much as the rest of the family. She must get it from Jang since his voice is the softest out of everyones.

"This must be the boy you've been so

enthusiastic about." She spoke to Jia then smirked my way before walking over. I stood in place, shyly. She got uncomfortably close, eying me from head to toe.

"Hmm..." She hummed, narrowing her eyes. "I don't see what's so special about this boy." She said, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hurt, even just a little.

"Sure, he may be pretty cute, but that's not saying much, I mean look at Zhan." She hissed. To be honest I didn't know what to make of this.

"Pay no mind to her." Zhan told me, pulling me past her with his arm wrapped over my shoulder.

"What? No hug for your dear elder sister?"

Yanli cried out crocodile tears. "Just as grumpy as ever I see. This is exactly what I'm talking about." She sighed.

"Dinner will be ready soon so make sure you are prepared!" Jia informed.

"We can catch up during dinner, Sean." Yanli teased with a wink. Zhan sighed and continued ignoring her. He dragged me off to his room and shut the door behind him.

"That girl can be really annoying." He sighed. "Man this week is going to be tough."

"You don't talk about her much." I pointed out.

"Yeah, that's because I usually prefer avoiding conversations about my family." He said, opening the window to the room. The light air of the summer night poured its way in, making the room twice as comfy.

"Don't take what she said to heart, because you are special, Yibo." Zhan said in a deep tone, walking over to me. My cheeks flushed a deep red. He lifted my head with two of his fingers and captured me in a deep kiss. I felt myself melting into it. Warm shivers coursed through me as his lips worked mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, trying to narrow the non-existent space between us. He placed a hand just above my waist and pulled me into him, connecting our bodies. Being the extreme heat machine that Zhan is, I was warmed from head to toe. Our kiss started slow and simple, or at least that would be the way Zhan would describe it, but it eventually evolved into something much more passionate and heated. Zhan took control of the kiss doing as he pleased, but let's just say he knew exactly what I wanted. He had me unconsciously moaning. He'd crack a wide smile every time I did. I was so flustered I didn't even care, I just wanted him to kiss me more. This was only my second time kissing someone, so it was still a relatively new experience.

Zhan moved us back towards his bed, keeping the kiss intact. My calves hit the bed frame, forcing me to sit down as Zhan pressed forward. It broke our kiss but that didn't stop him, or me. He sat one leg on the bed, beside me, while he stood on his other. He trailed his hand up my arm and to my face slowly. Every inch of skin he explored felt like fireworks setting off on my skin. The sensation was so great and unusual, it was something I'd always dreamed of, but even my dreams didn't compare to what I was feeling right now.

Zhan gently brushed his nose against mine causing me to lean forward. He reconnected our lips, laying me against the sheets. The sound of our kiss and my occasional moans echoed through the mostly silent room. Zhan's deep breaths weren't audible enough to escape the surrounding area.

I was left surprised after our kiss. Zhan pulled back just enough so that our noses were still pressed against each other. The more he pulled back the more I found myself leaning forward into his touch.

"Damn you're cute." He whispered, finally

pulling away. I sat there in a heated mess, looking up at him.

"Gosh... You're such a tease." I mumbled under my breath, turning away from him.

"I'd love to keep this up, but my mom said

dinner will be ready soon." He explained. I continued to pout.

"Now, don't be like that." Zhan said before tackling me backward on the bed. His weight on top of me forced my giggle out. He rested his head on the side of my neck. His breaths were warm but tickled like heck, so I continued giggling like a fool.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. It

popped open with Jang standing in the frame.

"Jia said to tell you, boys, to co-" He paused mid-sentence upon seeing us in this position.

"Dinner Time?" Zhan grunted, pulling himself off of me. "Alright, cool." He stretched a hand out to me, helping me up off of the bed. Jang's confused look faded and he just shrugged it off before heading down the stairs.

When Zhan, Xichen, and I reached the kitchen Yanli was already sitting at the table talking to Jia and Jang. When everyone took their seats the table was fully packed.

"My, this is the first time we had a full table in years." Jia pointed out. Yanli's eyes immediately landed on me.

"So what's been up with you two the past year?" Yanli asked Zhan and Xichen.

"Nothing more than what you already know." Xichen shrugged, taking a bite of his food. Her gaze was now focused on Zhan.

"Don't give me the same answer." She warned playfully, yet threatening.

"I mean, what is there to tell?" Zhan asked, seemingly frustrated.

"Tell me how you met the boy." She said,

"Yibo." Zhan corrected.

"Yibo." She corrected herself satirically.

"Well, we go to the same school." Zhan started. "We started talking when we were

bunked together during that school trip I took. And slowly became friends from then on." Zhan said, leaving a HEAP of details out, but the more I think about it, it was probably for the better.

"Sounds like a love story." Yanli teased. Little did she know.

"By the way, how did everything go today? I was so busy talking to Yanli I forgot to ask." Jia asked. That very moment she noticed the cuts on both Zhan and me.

"Goodness what happened to you two? He didn't hurt you, did he?" She dropped her fork dramatically. Yanli looked at Zhan and Jia confused.

"Uh... I had a little run-in with some deadbeats." Zhan said. I lowered my head not wanting to have this conversation.

"Yibo he uh, his dad hit him with a plate." Zhan spoke for me. Yanli scrunched up her eyebrows still confused while Xichen and Jang looked concerned.

"I knew this was a bad idea." Jia said,

disapprovingly.

"It's fine. We got what we were looking for, and with minor injuries." Zhan assured.

"It doesn't hurt either." I told her. Yanli seemed like she was finally getting an idea of what was going on.

"So um... your parents abuse you?" She asked, hesitantly.

"It's just my father. My mother left, well he scared her away rather." I clarified.

"She just left you?" Yanli raised a curious brow.

"She thought it was for the best. I don't think she knew what would happen though." I hated unearthing these memories, but I didn't want to be rude by ignoring their questions. Especially since I'm the guest here. Zhan sat there staring at her with a judgmental look.

The rest of the dinner wasn't as awkward as I was expecting it to be. Yanli really knew how to hold a conversation. The way she spoke when she wasn't goofing around was very mature and womanly.

"Your sister is very interesting." I said to Zhan as we headed up the stairs.

"You haven't seen anything yet." He said in disappointment, enthusiastically? I didn't know what he meant by that.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"She may not look it but she's big on video games." He answered.

"Her?" I said, taken aback in surprise.

"Yup." He nodded, opening his bedroom door.

"She may look calm and collected on the outside, but when she's playing her games it's like she's a whole other person." Zhan explained. "If we're lucky we'll be in for a show tonight." He informed, hoping backward onto his bed. He lifted his head to look at me for a moment. He patted the open space beside him. I shyly made my way over, and before I even realized it I was being pulled on top of him. The mattress shook as my body toppled over onto his. He groaned from my weight but it soon turned into laughter. He wrapped his large arms around me, caging me into his chest. His heart-melting stare was overwhelming, so I hid my face in the corner of his neck. His smell was amazing as ever. It grows on me more and more every time I smell it. For some strange reason, it makes me feel safe. I'm becoming infatuated with it almost.

Zhan brushed his nose against my cheek before adjusting our positions. We were both lying on our sides, facing each other.

"Here, lay on your stomach." He ordered. I turned around face down on the bed. The spot next to me sank as he closed some distance between us. His hands gently brushed up and down my back. It was so relaxing, I felt electricity traveling through my body. His hand eventually made its way under my shirt. I shivered at every inch of me his fingers touched. The tingles were so intense I was already on my way to falling asleep.

I would've dozed off by now, but the room was so quiet I could hear noises from all over the house. I sat up with my shirt still halfway up. Zhan looked at me curiously as I tried to figure out which direction the loudest noise was coming from.

"What's up?" He asked.

"Err it's nothing, just a little noisy is all." I told him.

"It's probably her." Zhan said, unamused. "Follow me." He grunted, getting out of bed.

We left the room and entered the hall. Zhan continued to Yanli's room and stood next to the door.

"Listen." That was all he said, motioning me to come up to the door. I sat there and listened closely like he told me to and I heard Yanli yelling. There would be moments of silence then all of a sudden she'd yell a load of profanities. I turned my confused, shocked gaze to Zhan to see him grinning cheek to cheek.

"What's she yelling about?" I asked.

"She gets like this when she's playing video games." He answered. So this is what Zhan meant earlier. I pressed my ear against the door and listened in once more.

"Uaarrggghhh, you fucking piece of shit I'm going to rip the skull from your body!' She screamed, followed by what sounded like a punch to something. "CHOKE ON THAT YOU mother fucking cock SUCKER." She continued.

"She takes her gaming far too seriously. Zhan stated, raising his brows in pity. "Guess what she asked for on her fifteenth birthday?" He asked me.

"Uhh..." I sat there thinking of the most logical answer. "A gaming console?" I replied.

"No." Zhan paused. "She asked for freaking soundproof walling." He said. "At first our parents thought it was to block out the sound from the rest of the house but turns out she just wanted it so they wouldn't hear her swearing her brains out." He explained. I did my best to hold in my laughter but failed.

"It started already?" Xichen asked, coming up the stairs.

"Yep, she's going at it like usual." Zhan responded. Xichen came over to the door and listened for a moment. The things she was shouting were so vile it felt like my innocence was being stolen.

"Cover your ears bro." Zhan said to Xichen, jokingly.

"I'm not a kid anymore." Xichen scrunched up his mouth.

Zhan and I eventually went back to his room, not wanting to be spotted by the crazy woman. We spent hours watching movies and cuddling. Zhan wrapped an arm around me while I snuggled against his side.

"You're like a big snuggly blanket." I muttered to him.

"Oh yeah?" He tightly wrapped himself around me, squeezing me in his arms. It was hard to catch my breath laughing so much. We both eventually wore ourselves out. Zhan left the room to go take a shower while I did the same. Not at the same time of course! Despite us being so close I still wasn't ready for something like that. Not to mention Zhan's family doesn't even know he and I are a thing so it would be a little odd if anyone saw us entering at the same time.

As I was collecting my clothes for the shower I realized I still didn't have that many shirts to wear. We managed to scavenge a few pieces of clothing at my house, but I don't think it'll be enough, especially now that I'm living here.

"What's on your mind?" Zhan asked, lying on the bed.

"Not much... I was thinking that I may need to buy an extra set of clothes or two." I told him, shifting my gaze to the stack in my hand

"I could take you out sometime and buy you new clothes" He proposed.

"I don't want you to spend your money on me." I responded, feeling bad.

"You're my boyfriend, I want to spend money on you. Plus it's not like I don't have the money to." He gestured to his entire room. He had so many expensive-looking pieces of furniture placed around.

"You can't deny me that." His voice went lower. He had a point.

"If it makes you happy then I'm happy." said, shyly.

"See?" He smirked.

The next morning Zhan accidentally woke me as he got out of bed. I noticed the sun rising when I sat up in bed to stretch.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" He asked, worry

grasping his tone as he returned to my side.

"It's fine. We have school anyway right?" I replied, still half asleep. He smiled and kissed my cheek before leaving the room. After getting ready I headed downstairs for breakfast. Xichen and Zhan were already seated waiting on Jia to finish cooking. I joined them, taking a seat next to Zhan and Xichen. We chatted about an assortment of random things while waiting.

"So, when do you want to go shopping for clothes?" Zhan asked, leaning on the table.

"Boy, never thought I'd hear that sentence come out of my mouth." He shook his head, making Xichen and I laugh.

"What's this I hear about shopping for clothes?" Yanli asked, walking into the room.

"Doesn't concern you." Zhan tried to dismiss her.

"No no, I'm interested, do tell." She demanded, leaning on the table like Zhan.

"Zhan and I were planning on getting me

some new clothes." I told her.

"Oh yeah? Sounds like fun. When do we leave?" She asked, with a smirk.

"Nope!" Zhan denied.

She giggled. "It's too late to stop me. Plus, I know where the best stores are. Back when I was still in high school my friends and I would always find the best places to shop." She mentioned. I guess she had a point, but she could've easily told Zhan where to shop. Zhan groaned, dropping his head to the table.

"We're leaving at five." She decided.

"W-wait, but I have work this afternoon." I told her.

"Well then, you'll have to leave early." She said, now relaxing into the back of her chair. She's crazy, but I didn't want to argue with her. Hopefully, Sandra won't be upset with me for cutting my day short after spending so much time away from my job.

"Speaking of high school, we have to get going soon." Xichen said impatiently, nudging his head to the clock.

"Sorry kids, I'll have breakfast on the table in a sec." Jia apologized. The others remained silent, so I chimed in.

"It's fine, you don't need to rush." I assured her. She gave me an appreciative smile while the others glanced at me curiously.

"Gosh, you guys need to learn some manners." I unintentionally blurted out. It was meant more as a thought.

"Boo's got some spice in him after all." Zhan teased. My cheeks lit up bright pink. Yanli just smirked.

"Sorry, I just don't want to be late for school. Summer break is just around the corner and I want to have the best grade possible before then." Xichen explained. Just then Jia sat the breakfast on the table. There was a variety of breakfast foods. Fruit salad, toast, bacon, eggs, and a carton of orange juice. It all looked so tasty!

"Help yourselves!" Jia said happily before disappearing into the next room.

After the delicious breakfast, we headed for school. Though before we left the house Yanli made it known that we would be going shopping today. She said it was a good opportunity to get to know me better. That made me a little worried.

I was silent pretty much the whole time during lunch. I just didn't know how to talk to Zhan's friends. I caught them glancing over at me from time to time. I could tell they still felt bad about what happened but I still had nothing to say to them. Not interested in their conversation, I turned my gaze to the other side of the room, spotting Xichen on his way over.

"Yo, remember when we left school the other day after Cindy was called into the principal's office?" He started, almost out of breath.

"Yeah?" Zhan looked at him confused.

"Well, my friend told me they were suspending Cindy!" He announced excitedly.

"Really? She's not here?" Zhan asked, looking around hopeful.

"Nope. And from what I've heard going around she was supposed to be expelled for manipulating the school board, but her mother begged them to keep her in. She promised that if there was ever any more trouble she'd pull her out." He explained.

"Her father should have pulled out, then none of this would've ever been a problem." Ji Li fired out bluntly. Everyone nearby laughed. I'm not a fan of cruel jokes such as that one, I couldn't help but crack a smile. Bad Yibo!

"Ooo man, that's savage." Yubin laughed.

"This is actually great news." Zhan responded happily. "Yeah, I agree. Yubin followed. I didn't know what to make of the situation. I'm glad she's gone but it doesn't affect me much. I was already done with her. Though, I guess it'll make things somewhat easier now that we don't have to see her for a while.

"See? If we'd stayed just a little longer that day we would've been able to see her reaction!" Xichen whined in disappointment.

"Yeah yeah, I take the blame for that." Zhan waved at him dismissively.

The day was going very well so far, but what had me worried was going back to work after all of this time and telling Sandra I have to cut the day short and our shopping adventure with the queen of chaos.