Chapter 31

When the car tires came to a stop in front of an old, modest two-story house in the neighborhood, Zhao Min lifted her head from where she had been staring down and looked at the building. Her face displayed a level of shock she couldn't even begin to measure... everything felt like a dream… everything.

From the moment she stepped into the grand house that was confirmed to belong to Xiao Lei—under Shi Lei's name—to the moment she locked eyes with Qian, it all felt surreal. She had to take a moment to piece together the face before her with the woman she had known in the past. Even though Qian had told her that illness had taken a toll on her, the changes were far more drastic than she had expected. The woman before her was almost unrecognizable.

But as it turned out, all the things she had encountered so far were just the beginning. The real shock lay in the reason why Qian had sought her out in the first place.

The story Qian told her...because at this point, that's all she could call it, just a story...was too extraordinary to believe. Nothing had been proven. There was no solid evidence to confirm the claim that the child she had given birth to with Xiao Lei was actually alive...that he had never died, despite what she had believed for years.

Only after Qian had finished telling her everything did Shi Lei walk into the room and find them there. At that moment, Zhao Min wasn't even sure what to think anymore. She was trying to process it all, to make sense of it, but one thing she did notice was the look of shock and fear that flickered in Shi Lei's eyes when he saw her.

His gaze kept shifting between his wife and Zhao Min, who was staring back at him. And being the kind of man he was—a man with a hardened heart—he walked further into the room, finally acknowledging her with a stunned whisper of her name.

She didn't respond. She couldn't. Her whole body was trembling.

"I'm sorry, Shi Lei," Qian said suddenly, her voice heavy with emotion. "I swear, I can't do this anymore. I can't keep this secret any longer. The signs are everywhere....I know my time is running out. I refuse to stand before death without seeking Zhao Min's forgiveness first. The fact that we are even here now, that we managed to find her, is nothing short of a miracle. Whether she forgives us or not, at least we have relieved ourselves of the burden by telling her the truth…"

Qian continued speaking, pouring out everything she had been holding back. Shi Lei remained silent throughout. Zhao Min had no idea how long she stood there listening before she suddenly felt the urge to move. Her legs felt weak, as though they might give out, but she steadied herself and turned to him.

There had been a time when she had seen him as someone untouchable, someone she deeply respected as her late husband's elder brother. Back then, in her younger years, she had viewed him with such reverence that she wouldn't even meet his gaze when she greeted him...always bowing slightly, as he were an elder.

To her, he had been like a father figure to Xiao Lei, the only family he had.

But now, standing in front of him, she felt absolutely nothing. No fear, no respect, not even anger. There was only emptiness. The weight of the years had erased every shred of the image she once had of him.

And as she met his gaze, she felt as though she wasn't just looking into his eyes—she was staring into the very core of his being, into the depths of a heart so hollow, so devoid of anything human.

A heart that had discarded Xiao Lei without a second thought. A heart that had shattered him and destroyed everything he had ever left behind in this world.

"If what your wife is saying is true," Zhao Min said, her voice trembling but firm, "take me to him. Now. I want to see my son. No delays."

Her hands were still clutching her head as she spoke, trying to steady herself. In the background, Qian continued speaking to her husband, saying things Zhao Min could no longer process.

Shi Lei remained silent until Qian's words finally broke through to him, forcing him to act.

And that was how they all ended up here... Shi Lei, Qian, Zhao Min, and another woman Qian had referred to as A-Dan....standing in front of this old house, waiting for the truth to finally reveal itself.

The way Zhao Min lifted her gaze to look at Shi Lei at that moment was filled with such profound shock that she didn't even know how to process it. Her heart refused to believe that, after all these long years, he had known the whereabouts of her son and his own nephew—yet he had lived his life in peace, unbothered, as if nothing had ever happened. She couldn't even decide what expression to assign to his face.

Was it really this simple? Could the burden of a twenty-one-year-old secret unravel in just a single day? In her mind, if the truth had been buried for this long, it should take at least half a year to piece it all together again. Her disbelief wasn't just singular—it came in layers, one after the other, stacking up within her.

The three of them, except for Shi Lei, stepped into the house as Zhao Min's phone kept vibrating....her husband, Shan Tunan, was calling. But she didn't pick up. She wasn't even sure she could find her voice at that moment. Instead, she silenced the call, letting it fade into the background.

A-Dan knocked on the door four times before someone finally answered.

A man emerged from the first room along the hallway, his voice acknowledging their presence.

"Hello, may I help you?"

"Good day," A-Dan greeted. "Is this Mr. He Jun's house?"

"Yes, it is," the man—Kai—replied.

"Thank you. We're looking for the owners of the house," A-Dan explained.

Kai gave them a questioning look. "The owners?"

A-Dan nodded. "Yes. Either the man of the house or his wife."

"The man of the house has passed away," Kai said, and in that moment, Zhao Min felt her stomach drop. "But his wife is still here. Let me call her."

With that, Kai disappeared back inside. Moments later, a few men emerged, one after another, followed by a woman trailing behind them. Each of them greeted the guests before stepping aside.

"Please, come in," a young woman finally said, peeking from the doorway.

Zhao Min found herself inside the room, her eyes darting around, just as they had in the courtyard. The older woman who welcomed them was clearly the lady of the house. She greeted them warmly, but Zhao Min could tell there was an air of unease beneath her smile.

"We're here with some important news," Qian spoke with quiet determination, though her voice carried the weight of exhaustion. "I'm not sure how you'll take it."

The woman adjusted her posture, her gaze sharp despite the tired redness in her eyes. Trying to mask whatever emotions she had before their arrival, she forced a small smile and said, "Well, I hope it's good news."

Qian shifted in her seat as Zhao Min wondered how on earth she would even begin to explain everything. But then, slowly and deliberately, Qian started recounting the story, each word pulling the older woman deeper into silence. She kept nodding as she listened, her fingers gripping the edges of her seat.

Then, before she could even respond, the young woman who had led them inside gasped from outside the room.

"No… this can't be…" she whispered, almost in shock.

And then, she said the words that sent a fresh wave of dread washing over Zhao Min.

"They're looking for Zhan…"

That single name was enough to shift the entire atmosphere.

And just like that, the growing tension in the room exploded as the older woman... Mama... began unraveling a long and painful explanation.

By the time she finished, her final words struck like a hammer to Zhao Min's heart.

"As of now… we have no idea where he is."

🔸🔹▫️

From the moment Shi Lei turned his car around and drove away from the house, he no longer knew what he was doing or even what he was thinking. The turmoil weighing on his heart was already overwhelming, but he had not been prepared for what he encountered there.

He had done everything in his power to prevent this outcome—closing his eyes, shutting out Qian's words, trying to calm her down—but fate had blindsided him in a way he never expected. At that moment, he couldn't even process what she was saying.

The fear and intensity in Zhao Min's gaze only deepened his unease. When she stood there, staring at him, he felt as if she wasn't even herself anymore. It was as though her eyes were reflecting someone else—Xiao Lei, perhaps, or worse, Xiao Lei himself rising from his grave to stand before him. His mind could only conclude one thing: he had lost control over this situation. Qian had won this battle against him. The only thing left for him now was to wait for whatever judgment Zhao Min decided to pass, because forgiveness, as she spoke of it, was not even an option.

Yet, beyond all this, what truly unsettled him was the way Mr. Yang Tao had ignored him. If there was one thing Shi Lei knew as well as the back of his hand, it was that when Mr. Yang Tao was done using someone, that person would not be left to wander freely in this world. Not for secrecy's sake, but to ensure there were no loose ends.

So, even beyond the loss of his wealth, what troubled Shi Lei most now was the uncertainty of what could happen to him at any moment.

Lost in these thoughts, he merged onto the main highway, unaware that he had just passed a red car parked discreetly by the roadside.

Inside that car, a man took note of Shi Lei's license plate before pulling out his phone and making a call. The call went through all the way to Guangzhou, reaching the office of Mr. Yang Tao, who was seated with Ping's right-hand man, Emmanuel.

At that very moment, Yang Tao was watching a video on his phone. It showed Ping's body being carried out of the hospital and handed over to his family—or rather, his wife's family. No one truly knew Ping's real blood relatives. His wife and daughter were screaming, wailing over his corpse in the kind of grief that came from sheer despair.

Yang Tao switched off the video and set his phone down before turning to Emmanuel, who was waiting for his orders.

"Are you sure you're ready to take over your boss's work?" he asked.

Emmanuel nodded firmly. "Yes, sir!" His voice was steady, full of respect.

Yang Tao gave a satisfied nod. "Then consider this an opportunity for yourself. You were chosen because you were the one truly running Ping's operations. We only work with those who are useful to us."

His voice turned colder as he leaned in.

"But the moment you outlive your usefulness, you will be eliminated—just like Ping was. Once he was no longer of value, what reason did we have to keep him alive? He had served his purpose. The dead are of no use to us."

Emmanuel shook his head.

"No."

Mr. Yang Tao nodded as well.

"You'll have money, Emmanuel... more than you ever imagined. You'll have power, influence... nothing in this country will be out of your reach as long as you stay with us. You made the right choice accepting this offer. From now on, you're in charge of everything Ping left behind. I admire your methods and the way you operated under him. Now, look at these men I hired. It's been three days, and they're still stuck on one task. That's why, from this moment on, I want you on standby at all times. We may need you at any moment."

Emmanuel nodded in understanding, but before he could respond, Mr. Yang Tao's phone vibrated on the table between them. He paused, letting Emmanuel hold his thoughts while he answered the call. It was one of the men he had stationed in Beijing, tracking Shi Lei.

"Sir, I have him in a clear spot."

Mr. Yang Tao smirked.

"Finally. Follow him... take him out."

He gave the order while Emmanuel watched in silence. What Yang Tao didn't realize was that Emmanuel wasn't the type of man he assumed him to be. He wasn't just another obedient follower who blindly executed orders. He was the kind of man who would lay down his life for those he truly served.

And now that Emmanuel was certain Yang Tao had orchestrated Ping's murder—the very man they had once fought to protect—he made a decision. If Yang Tao could eliminate someone as powerful as Ping so easily, then Emmanuel knew his own time was coming. He wouldn't wait for it. He would strike first.

It was already set in motion. As Yang Tao casually issued another kill order, he remained unaware that his own fate had been sealed that very night—not tomorrow, not later, but now.

Before entering the office earlier, Emmanuel had slipped a lethal pill into the lemon drink placed on Yang Tao's desk. A slow, agonizing toxin that would tear through his intestines within hours. As they spoke, Yang Tao had already taken several sips, completely unaware of the poison now coursing through his system.

The Crash

The accident happened at a sharp bend in the road. A massive trailer truck, seemingly losing control of its brakes, barreled straight toward Shi Lei's car at full speed. No matter how desperately he tried to swerve out of the way, there was no escaping it.

The impact was devastating, triggering a massive pile-up of vehicles behind him. The crash site became a scene of chaos—smoke filled the air, sirens blared, and bystanders rushed to pull survivors from the wreckage.

Shi Lei was dragged from the twisted remains of his car, his body mangled beyond recognition, blood pouring from countless wounds.

And in the midst of the confusion, the truck driver—the man specifically assigned to carry out this hit—melted into the crowd and disappeared.

But amid all this destruction, one question remained unanswered—where was Yibo and Zhan?

:-*:-*:-*:-*

One Week Later

Zhao Min stood by the curtain, her gaze lowered to the floor of the hotel room where she and her husband had been staying since arriving in Beijing.

Today was the final day of her long wait—the last hope of finding her son. Min was scheduled to return to Beijing today, the young woman from the family where her son had supposedly lived. After weeks of confusing and unclear information, one fact stood out: Min was the only one who might know exactly where he was. A letter had been found in her room before the incident that separated her from him, and though she was currently in India, efforts had been made to bring her back.

Shan Tunan had paid for her flight ticket and all necessary arrangements to ensure her return. She landed in Shanghai late last night, and another ticket had been arranged for her to fly to Beijing today. That was the reason for Zhao Min's anxious wait in this city—her wait, because Shan Tunan had returned home for two days before coming back last night to join her.

Lost in thought, she suddenly heard him call her name. She let go of the curtain and turned toward him. He was standing by the bathroom door, fresh from a shower. He gave her a questioning look and gestured toward her phone.

"Why aren't you answering? It's been ringing non-stop."

She had heard it, but she had no intention of answering. She already knew who was calling—Qian, who had been pleading for forgiveness over the past few days. Ever since the accident that nearly killed Shi Lei, she had been a mess.

He hadn't died, but he was as good as dead. His body had suffered seven fractures, and his spinal cord was so severely damaged that parts of his internal organs were exposed. The day Zhao Min visited him in the hospital, he was wrapped in bandages and metal supports from head to toe. The only thing he could move were his eyes.

But Zhao Min hadn't gone to pity him. She had gone to tell him and Qian that their pleas for forgiveness were misplaced. She had moved on—she had a husband, children, and a peaceful life now. If they wanted forgiveness, they should seek it from the boy whose life they had shattered, whose whereabouts were still unknown while they had been living comfortably off his wealth.

After saying all that, she saw no point in further discussions.

"It's Qian again, dear. Just ignore them. They've gotten too used to taking advantage of people."

Shan Tunan, however, picked up the phone and glanced at the screen.

"It's not her. It's Muxi."

Hearing her sister's name, Zhao Min immediately rushed forward and took the phone. She spoke with her siblings every day, updating them on the situation just as she kept in touch with Guri and her family. Like her, they had been restless all morning, calling repeatedly to get any news. After her conversation with them, she also checked in with Guri to make sure her home and children were well.

Once she was done, she freshened up and got ready. Then, she and Shan Tunan, who was busy with work calls, left for the He Jun's house. It was 10:45 a.m., and Min's flight was scheduled to land in Beijing at 8 a.m. By the time they arrived, she would already be home.

Sure enough, as they were on the way, Hao called to inform them that Min had just arrived home.

When they reached the house, Zhao Min walked in directly, as she had grown familiar with the place over the past few days. The children were all present, welcoming her warmly and once again expressing their gratitude for her help.

And then, finally, she laid eyes on Min.

She didn't know her, but she knew however this young girl used to be, it is not this pale.

Min stood nervously in front of Zhao Min, greeting her hesitantly before thanking her for her help. But beyond that, every question directed at her was met with slow, reluctant answers, as if she was either afraid of Zhao Min or still deeply shaken by everything that had happened.

"If you don't open your mouth and start talking, I'll break you right here in this room," Hao snapped at her without warning.

"Exactly!" Mama added. "You're being asked questions, and all you do is nod? That's just being stubborn!"

When Min turned to look at her, she realized that Mama's expression was just as severe as Hao's and Kai's. They were all clearly waiting for Zhao Min to leave so they could make Min suffer for everything she had done. At that moment, Min knew she had no escape. Her fate was sealed.

She wiped away her tears and finally began speaking, explaining everything from the very beginning—how she first met Fen, the way Fen manipulated Zhan into thinking she cared for him, and how she slowly pulled him into her schemes.

She described everything, including how she knew about Zhan's disappearance. But once Fen realized she was becoming suspicious, she distracted her with lies and fear, keeping her silent all these months.

Zhao Min had faced one heartbreak after another since arriving in Beijing. Each new discovery was worse than the last. But after hearing Min's account, she was at a loss for words. She struggled to accept that for all these years, a son she never knew existed had been living quietly elsewhere, only for everything to fall apart just as she got close to finding him.

She didn't have time to dwell on the emotions threatening to consume her. Instead, she asked Min if she knew where Fen was. Hao had already told her that Fen's house had burned down and that no one knew where she had gone.

"I don't know," Min admitted. "But my friend Zo Ling might. She was with Fen for a long time."

With that, they immediately set out for Zo Ling's house. Zhao Min, Hao, Kai, and Min went together.

Before leaving, Zhao Min stepped outside and explained everything to Shan Tunan, who had been waiting for her in the car. He immediately suggested they involve the police, given the severity of the situation.

Following his advice, they went to the same police station where they had previously reported Zhan's disappearance. Four officers were assigned to accompany them.

Meanwhile, back at the house, Aunty Rui... who had also been there... took the opportunity to tell Zhao Min everything about Zhan. She described his personality, his life, and everything he had endured. It was another blow to Zhao Min's heart, but it strengthened her resolve. She no longer had any doubts... this was her son.

Aunty Rui also revealed that Fen was her husband's sister, but neither she nor her husband had known the depths of Fen's deception.

Then, Mama brought out an old cloth bundle... a faded yellow and blue shawl.

"This is what he was wrapped in when we found him," she said.

Zhao Min didn't recognize it. She had never seen it before. But something about it stirred something deep inside her, as if she should have known it. As if, somehow, it belonged to her.

She held onto it tightly, even as Shan Tunan and the officers returned. Together, they all set off for Zo Ling's house.

Luckily, they found her. And the moment she saw the police, she panicked. Without much pressure, she revealed where Fen was hiding.

Nowhere Left to Run

In a quiet neighborhood, inside a small house, Fen lay recovering under the care of her friend. But the moment her friend saw the police, she panicked and led them straight to the room where Fen was resting.

There, Tong... the housemaid who had miraculously survived the fire... was tending to her.

The sight of the police, along with Min, Hao, and the others, sent a wave of terror through Fen. She didn't even need to ask why they were there. The moment she saw Min, she knew it was about Zhan. She didn't even stop to wonder how Min had returned to the country.

But at that moment, none of it mattered. Fen was in dire need of money. The very people who had set her house on fire had robbed her first, forcing her to hand over all her bank cards and PINs.

Right in front of her, they drained every account she had through a laptop, then locked her in a room and set the house ablaze. It was only the screams she managed to let out that drew neighbors to her rescue before she was burned alive.

Afterward, she took refuge in her friend's house. The only money left in her account was a mere two hundred thousand yuan, which had barely covered her hospital bills. And now, even her so-called friend was growing tired of her presence. After all, their relationship had only ever been built on mutual interests, nothing more.

But what hurt Fen the most wasn't her friend's indifference. It was the realization that the three powerful men she had always relied on—the ones who had saved her countless times before—had all turned their backs on her. She had begged them for help, and they had all vanished without a trace. Only one had sent his driver with a measly two hundred thousand yuan in an envelope. She had looked at the money in disgust, furious at how quickly her world had crumbled.

And now, on top of everything, Min and the police were standing over her.

Without hesitation, she confessed. She told them everything that had happened with Zhan back then—all that she knew. Then she gave them an address: the home of Peng's associate, Zang, where everything had taken place.

The revelation was so shocking that Zhao Min had to sit down, gripping the chair to steady herself. She had thought she had already heard the worst, but this… this was beyond anything she had imagined.

Not only had her son been dragged into this corrupted world, but the man he had been handed over to had died that very same night—without anyone ever learning the cause of death or what had happened to Zhan afterward.

Sitting in that room, Zhao Min felt like the world had collapsed around her. Maybe this was the end of the road. Maybe all she would ever have was the knowledge that her son had once lived, that he had suffered, but not the chance to hold him again.

But just as she was sinking into despair, Shan Tunan spoke up.

"No," he said firmly. "She's not getting away that easily."

He ordered that Fen be taken into custody for further questioning, insisting that she also face legal consequences for everything she had done.

Fen begged, pleaded for mercy, claiming she was still recovering from her injuries. But her cries fell on deaf ears. The police took her, along with Tong, and loaded them into their car. Her so-called friend, who had been secretly hoping to be rid of her, barely concealed her relief.

With that settled, Shan Tunan told Min and her friend Bing to return home while he, Zhao Min, Hao, and the others headed toward Zang's house—the last known place tied to Zhan's disappearance.

▫️🔹🔸

The house was just as lively as ever, filled with young men and women enjoying themselves. It almost felt like a small party was going on when they arrived. Even the security guard was startled at the sight of the police car, but without hesitation, he opened the gate for them to enter.

Inside, despite the arrival of the police, none of the young people seemed alarmed or bothered. They continued whatever they were doing, unconcerned, knowing that even if they were taken in, they would be out in no time.

Shan Tunan stepped forward, asking about Zang's whereabouts. He was informed that Zang was not at the house, but they could give him his phone number. Taking the number, he called immediately. After listening to everything, Zang claimed he had no knowledge of the situation. He didn't know that Peng had brought a boy with him the day he died, and the one being accused of Peng's murder was someone else—someone named Yibo.

Yibo.

The name stuck in Shan Tunan's mind as he ended the call, his eyes shifting to Zhao Min, who stood by the car.

Yibo, he repeated in his head. Which Yibo?

:-*:-*:-*:-*:-:-*

YIBO.

It had been three days since Shan Tunan left, and he hadn't spent a night at the house since. He wanted to finish everything before leaving Shenzhen. He had been working tirelessly, making sure all tasks were completed within those days before heading to Beijing to conclude his business there.

Even after returning to the city for two days, he hadn't been at ease. But today, he finally felt like he had wrapped up everything. Nearly every task on his list was complete. By five in the evening, he returned home, took a shower, and ate the meal prepared by the housekeeper, Ms. Er Che. Ever since the ordeal with Zhan's disappearance and subsequent return, she had been more attentive than ever.

After finishing his meal, he stepped outside, found a spot to sit, and scrolled through his phone. Most of his attention was on following updates about Ping's death and watching the extravagant mourning ceremony his family was holding—though from the looks of it, they were more eager to inherit his wealth than genuinely grieve for him.

He didn't return to the house until around nine at night. Heading straight to his room, he thought about calling Zhan once he got inside. Despite all the exhaustion from the past days, he longed to hear Zhan's voice. In the past two days, he hadn't even bothered picking up his phone to call.

But the moment he opened the door and stepped inside, he stopped in his tracks. There was someone in the room.

The lights were completely off, and even the balcony doors were shut, letting in only a faint glow from behind the curtains. But even in the dimness, his eyes quickly adjusted, recognizing the figure before him.

Zhan.

Before he could react, his body instinctively moved back, almost losing balance.

Without hesitation, Yibo reached out, grabbing him with both hands and pulling him close. His arms wrapped firmly around Zhan's back, steadying him. Zhan's wide eyes stared up at him in the darkness, startled.

"It's me. Don't you recognize me?"

Yibo's voice was quiet yet steady.

Zhan blinked, shaking his head slightly, still staring at him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were at the door," Zhan murmured. "I only came to bring you food. We were waiting, but Ms. Er Che said she didn't see you come in…"

First, Yibo noticed the soft, cold and silky top Zhan was wearing. It felt light against his skin, as if Zhan might slip right through his grasp. Then there was the faint scent—him or his clothes carried a fragrance that lingered, seeping into Yibo's senses. Lastly, he saw the hat Zhan wore, though it couldn't fully conceal the braids decorating his hair.

Just yesterday, Guri had insisted on braiding Zhan's hair, saying it suited him since he refused to cut it. She had even teased him, saying that if not for the absence of a woman's boobs, no one would believe he wasn't one.

Yibo ran his fingers over the fabric of Zhan's silk top, feeling its soft texture beneath his touch. That familiar, delicate scent wrapped around him, sending signals through his mind—signals he tried to push away by shaking his head slightly. Then he muttered, "I didn't know you were standing by the door either. If I had, I wouldn't have opened it."

He noticed the slight movement in Zhan's throat, as if he had just swallowed something before answering, "I was trying to find the light switch but couldn't, so I didn't turn them on."

The way Zhan pronounced switch made Yibo chuckle. He smiled, nodding toward the direction of the lights.

"They're over there… near the balcony door."

Zhan turned to look, but that small movement made Yibo feel as if he had stepped even closer. And just like that, the thoughts Yibo had been trying to suppress unraveled completely. Before he even realized it, his grip on Zhan tightened.

Something sparked in Yibo's nerves, spreading through his entire body down to his legs. For a moment, he felt weightless, as if his feet weren't even touching the floor. Startled, Zhan tried to step back, but Yibo held him firmly, stopping him from moving away.

"Zhan…"

His voice came out in a hushed whisper, carrying an undertone that sent a shiver down Zhan's spine.

"That scent… did Guri give you that perfume too?"

Yibo's voice remained quiet, as if afraid someone else might overhear. A few seconds passed before Zhan even processed what he meant.

Yibo was still staring at him, his dark eyes barely visible in the dim room.

"No, she didn't give it to me. It's hers—I just used it."

Zhan's voice was barely above a murmur as he met Yibo's gaze. Yibo nodded slowly.

"It smells really nice… Will you let me take in the scent?"

The words seeped into Zhan like a slow, intoxicating warmth, making his chest tighten. He wasn't even sure what Yibo meant, but the way Yibo's hands moved lightly against his back sent a wave of heat surging through him.

He interpreted the question in the simplest way he could.

A soft chuckle escaped Zhan—a short, fleeting laugh that felt like a light summer breeze.

Yibo watched him, an unreadable expression on his face as Zhan said, "It's in my room. If you really want it, I can ask Guri tomorrow and bring it to you."

But before Zhan could finish his sentence, something unexpected happened.

Yibo closed the remaining distance between them, leaning in, pressing his face against the side of Zhan's neck. His hands kept moving against Zhan's back, slow, deliberate, sending waves of warmth through his skin.

Then, in a deep, hushed voice, as if whispering into the very core of Zhan's being, Yibo murmured his name.

"Zhan..."

That was all Yibo said, yet within that single word, Zhan heard a thousand unspoken meanings—meanings he couldn't quite grasp, let alone translate. All he knew was that his heart had shattered into countless pieces, and he doubted it would ever be whole again.

Several seconds passed, thick with tension, as Zhan felt Yibo's breath warm against his neck, inhaling his scent. That simple act sent a shockwave through him, leaving his mind blank. Without realizing it, he took a small step back, his movement revealing Yibo's face more clearly in the dim light.

Zhan didn't know what possessed him at that moment. He wasn't thinking—he simply acted. His body moved on its own as he leaned in, closing the distance between them. Slowly, deliberately, he tilted his head and pressed his lips against Yibo's.

For so long, he had imagined this—dreamed about it. Every time Yibo spoke to him, his gaze would unconsciously drift to that small, perfectly shaped mouth, those soft, crimson lips that looked impossibly tempting.

But just as quickly as he had moved forward, doubt came crashing down on him like a wave of cold water. What if Yibo didn't want this? What if he had crossed a line?

Panic seized him, and he immediately pulled back, his entire body trembling. His voice was barely above a whisper, laced with uncertainty.

"S-Sorry… I didn't mean to…"

Before he could finish, Yibo let out a small, amused smile. His hands, which had been resting against Zhan's back, tightened slightly as he pulled him closer. Then, lifting his hands, he gently cupped both sides of Zhan's face.

"Let me teach you how to kiss," Yibo murmured, his voice deep and intoxicating. "The way couples are supposed to."

Zhan barely had time to process his words before Yibo closed the distance again, capturing his lips in a kiss—this time, with no hesitation. His tongue slipped past Zhan's parted lips, claiming his mouth with slow, deliberate intensity.

For a brief moment, Zhan froze, his mind scrambling to catch up with reality. But then, instinct took over. He mirrored Yibo's movements, following his lead, responding with the same eagerness that had been buried within him for so long.

It wasn't just a kiss—it was the culmination of everything they had held back, every unspoken feeling, every suppressed desire.

They didn't stop. The kiss deepened, hands exploring, bodies pressing closer. One touch led to another, guiding them toward Yibo's bed, where they continued to unravel each other, lost in the fire they had finally ignited.

Author

Phewww! Semi long chapter with sweet ending. 😉😄

Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛