Zhan lay down after finishing all his tasks for the evening. He pulled the soft blanket over half his body and dimmed the room's light with a click, closing his eyes in the hope of falling asleep.
Minutes passed as he tossed and turned, trying to settle himself, but the lingering scent of Yibo on his clothes kept invading his senses. It unsettled him completely, making it impossible to relax. Frustrated, he sighed and sat up, running a hand through his hair. He got off the bed, headed to his closet, and pulled off the shirt he'd worn. Tossing it into the wardrobe, he changed into a set of silky, short pajamas and lay back down, hoping sleep would finally come.
The vibrating sound of his phone startled Zhan awake in the early morning. Groggily, he reached for his phone, his eyes still heavy with sleep. Picking it up, he glanced at the screen to see the same unfamiliar number that had persistently called the previous day. He sat up and, in a soft voice, answered, "Hello?"
Silence greeted him on the other end. Patiently, he repeated, "Hello?"
Still no response. Frustrated, he ended the call and set the phone aside.
A glance at the clock told him it was already 9:03 a.m. Quickly, he slid out of bed, slipping on his Gucci bedroom slippers, and rushed to the bathroom. He showered swiftly, knowing he was running late for work.
Emerging from the bathroom, Zhan dressed meticulously in a Gucci-Navy cropped trouser and a milk-colored long-sleeved shirt, topping it off with a black Gucci blazer. Grabbing his phone and handbag, he stepped into the living room, where Granny and Bei were already having breakfast at the dining table.
"Good morning, Granny," Zhan greeted warmly, pulling out a chair to sit. "How are you?"
Granny smiled and replied, "Good morning, Zhan. I'm fine. Did you sleep well?"
Turning to Bei, who was watching him with a playful smile, Zhan added, "Good morning, Mama-to-be. How's the little one?"
Bei chuckled and teased, "Good morning, Uncle of the baby."
Zhan ate lightly, just a couple of slices of toast and some unsweetened tea, before standing up. "I need to get going now, Granny. I'll be back later," he announced.
"Make sure to come home early," Granny instructed with a smile. "From today onward, you'll be in charge of preparing dinner."
Zhan grinned. "Don't worry, Granny. Starting tonight, you'll enjoy the best dinners ever. Mama-to-be, take care of yourself. See you later!"
He walked out of the house and headed toward Wang Dad's part of the Mansion. As he approached, he bumped into Hannah, who had just stepped out of the kitchen. Her face was covered in a face scrub, waiting for it to set before she washed it off. She stared at Zhan, her eyes narrowing slightly, but Zhan ignored her, brushing past her after responding with a curt, "Good morning."
Hannah watched him enter the living room, a sour expression creeping onto her face. She despised how effortlessly Zhan carried himself, his natural charm and elegance stealing the attention she craved. She hated how unique and striking he looked, even without flashy makeup or accessories. It was clear to her why Granny and Bei adored him, and why Yibo respected him so much.
"Ugh," she muttered, clenching her fists. She stormed back to her room, her jealousy and frustration bubbling over. No matter what, she resolved to find a way to make Yibo hers.
Meanwhile, Zhan emerged from his meeting with Wang Dad, where they'd discussed finalizing a major project for Wang's company. As he exited, his phone buzzed again. Fishing it out of his handbag, he answered, "Hello?"
Silence. Again. Irritated, Zhan glanced at his phone to ensure the call was active.
Finally, a cold voice came through the line. "Should I call you Mrs. Wang Yibo or Uncle to Wang Yibo? Either way, it's irrelevant. What matters is the meeting at 10:30 a.m., which you seem to have forgotten. Unlike you, we don't tolerate delays, especially with our partners we marry becouse of love waiting for our arrival back home, not like some forced or arranged marriage... Please we expect professionalism, not excuses."
Zhan stared at the phone for a moment, then ended the call abruptly without bothering to reply. Sliding the phone back into his pocket, he headed to his car.
As he approached, his eyes landed on Yibo standing on the balcony with a mug in hand. He was casually dressed in black three-quarter pants, a sleeveless shirt, and brown slippers. The early morning sunlight highlighted his perfectly toned figure as he took slow sips from his mug, his usual morning routine of warm water with a dash of honey.
Zhan quickly averted his gaze, unlocking his car. Sliding into the driver's seat, he started the engine, honked for the gate to be opened, and drove off without a second glance.
Yibo continued with what he was doing without glancing at the car as it drove out, even though he had noticed Zhan leaving Wang Dad's part earlier. His gaze had lingered briefly on Zhan's outfit, pausing at the well-fitted pants that highlighted his slim waist. With a subtle shake of his head, Yibo closed his eyes momentarily and shifted his focus, walking back inside as the atmosphere outside felt stifling.
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When Zhan arrived at the office, he parked his car and walked straight in. Sarah was already waiting for him downstairs. Together, they headed to the meeting room on the top floor, where the Chairman, Sen Nan, and the other shareholders were gathered. Zhan was there to represent Wang's company as well as Yibo and Wang Dad.
The meeting lasted until 2:40 PM, after which Zhan went to his office to review some documents. He kept checking the clock, mindful of his plan to leave early since he had responsibilities waiting for him at home.
By 3:53 PM, Zhan finally wrapped up his tasks and informed Sarah of the documents that needed to be delivered to Sen Nan for review before the next day's meeting.
"Make sure you get all the necessary files to the Chairman for his review before tomorrow. I don't want any delays that might result in him calling me," Zhan instructed firmly.
Sarah nodded, replying, "Understood."
As Zhan exited the office and got into his car, he noticed his phone vibrating. He pulled it out, glanced at the caller ID with a frown, and immediately declined the call before putting it back into his bag.
Upon arriving home, Zhan didn't see Yibo's car or his security team in the compound, so he assumed they had left. Heading straight to Granny's part, he found the living room empty. Granny was in her room reading, while Bei was taking an afternoon nap in her bedroom.
Zhan went to his room to rest for a while before changing into more comfortable clothes. Later, he headed to Granny's room to check on her.
It was late afternoon by the time Zhan decided to wake Bei with gentle care, as it was getting too late for her to stay in bed. He reminded her to freshen up and then head to the kitchen for dinner preparations since it was his turn to cook that evening.
Zhan joined Guan and the house staff, Fang and others, in the kitchen to assist with some of the cooking. They prepared plain white rice with a light waterleaf soup and a small portion of meat. Fang mentioned that Yibo preferred meals with minimal meat when he was around. Although this wasn't why Zhan kept the dish simple—he wasn't much of a fan of meat himself—he appreciated that it also suited Granny's dietary preferences due to her age.
Zhan prepared salad, knowing Bei was pregnant, along with a peach drink and black lemon tea sweetened with honey. The entire household loved tea with honey, a habit Granny had instilled in them since they were young. He sliced fresh fruits and baked the desserts too.
He didn't leave the kitchen until after 6 PM. Once done, he headed straight to his room, undressed, and took a long shower. Wrapping a large blue towel around himself, he sat by the mirror, applied a bit of lotion, and sprayed on some Chanel. He changed into a sleeveless shirt and shorts, grabbed his phone, and made his way to the dining room, where Granny and Bei were already seated. Leaving his phone on the living room couch, he joined them.
Zhan didn't see Yibo, but the distinct scent of Tom Ford, his signature cologne, caught his attention. His steps slowed as he glanced toward the chair Yibo usually occupied in the dining area, which wasn't visible from the entrance. Sure enough, there Yibo was, sitting with a steaming cup of tea in his hands. He didn't look up or acknowledge Zhan's presence, but Zhan was sure he knew someone had entered.
Pausing for a moment, Zhan hesitated to approach but eventually walked in slowly. Without meeting Yibo's gaze, he said quietly, "Sorry for keeping you waiting."
Instead of sitting down, Zhan served Granny her meal, then prepared a plate of salad and a small portion of rice for Bei. Finally, he took a small serving for himself and sat down. Only then did Yibo glance at him, say nothing, and finish his tea. Rising slowly, Yibo was stopped by Granny, who asked, "What about your food? Zhan, serve your husband his meal. He's already had his tea."
The look Yibo shot at Zhan was piercing, making him feel exposed and uncomfortable. The sleeveless shirt he wore suddenly felt inappropriate under Yibo's gaze, filling Zhan with embarrassment and regret for not dressing more conservatively.
With his usual calm and controlled tone, Yibo said, "Have the food sent to my section. I won't eat here." He turned and left without sparing Zhan another glance, leaving him frustrated, humiliated, and confused by Yibo's vague instructions.
"What does he mean by send the food?" Zhan thought to himself. He can't possibly expect me to take it, can he?
Granny's sharp stared left no room for debate, though, and Zhan reluctantly sighed, covering his frustration with a cough. Bei, noticing his unease, handed him a glass of water and said gently, "Take it easy, sweetie. Go, deliver the food, and come back. You can finish your meal afterward."
Zhan lifted his gaze to Bei, his large, expressive eyes shimmering with suppressed tears of frustration. Yet he knew there was no way he could defy Granny, no matter how irritated he felt.
Sensing Zhan's struggle, Bei stood up, fetched a basket, and neatly packed Yibo's meal. Handing it to Zhan, she added with a teasing smile, "Let me grab your phone and a proper shirt for you...security's watching, after all." She finished with a playful wink, trying to lighten his mood.
Zhan watched Bei as she went to fetch Zhan's phone and the shirt she mentioned, his heart pounding with a mix of irritation and frustration.
Rising to his feet, he rubbed his chest lightly to ease the tightness he felt and walked away, his steps deliberate and tense. Granny watched him with curiosity before shaking her head and returning to the living room, where she placed the basket on the table, waiting for Zhan to emerge.
Six or seven minutes passed, and Zhan still hadn't appeared. Lost in his thoughts and simmering anger, he knew he didn't have much choice but to deliver the food, mainly because of Granny.
Sensing the silence, Granny smiled and called out loudly, "Zhan, come out before the food gets cold. Take it to him quickly—time's running, and you know he won't eat if it gets too late."
Zhan finally stepped out, his expression neutral and unreadable. Without a word, he picked up the basket and walked out. Bei called after him, "Here's your phone!" but Zhan didn't even glance back as he exited.
He headed straight to Yibo's section of the house. One of Yibo's guards at the second gate spotted him and quickly approached, greeting him politely.
Without looking at the guard, Zhan acknowledged the greeting and continued walking until he reached Yibo's door. The guard opened it carefully, knowing Yibo hated loud knocking. Thankfully, the door wasn't locked, as he had anticipated the delivery.
Zhan paused briefly at the door, glancing at the guard, who stepped aside respectfully and said, "Good night, sir."
The guard walked away, leaving Zhan to take a deep breath before stepping inside. Closing the door behind him, Zhan scanned the room for a place to set the basket. The entire space was filled with Yibo's signature cologne, making the cool air from the air conditioner seem even more saturated with his scent.
Zhan made his way to the dining area near the bedrooms corridor, placed the basket on the table, and turned to leave—only to find Yibo standing directly behind him. He froze. Yibo was dressed in light sleepwear, his piercing eyes locking onto Zhan's, who quickly averted his gaze, clenching his jaw and turning to leave.
Before he could take another step, Yibo's hands firmly gripped Zhan's waist. In one swift motion, Yibo lifted him and carried him to a chair, sitting down with Zhan on his lap. Looking directly at him, Yibo asked calmly, "Where's your phone?"
Zhan turned his head sharply to glare at him, his face tense. He struggled to stand, but Yibo tightened his grip, keeping him seated. The closeness, the way Yibo held him, made Zhan's heart race, and he felt a strange heat rising within him.
He tried once more to stand, but Yibo's grip was unyielding. When Zhan finally turned to confront him, Yibo leaned closer, their faces inches apart, their breaths mingling.
Flustered, Zhan turned his face away, unable to speak. Yibo gently turned Zhan's face back toward him, their foreheads almost touching. In a soft, deliberate voice, he said, "You brought the food late on purpose because you don't want me to eat, didn't you?"
Zhan abruptly stood, freeing himself from Yibo's grip, and headed for the door in haste. But before he could reach it, Yibo caught up, lifting him effortlessly again. Carrying Zhan toward the bedroom, Yibo leaned close to his ear and murmured, "If you don't answer me, Zhan-ge, you'll be spending the night here."
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛