Mission: Protect Xiao Zhan (Completed)

ARC 2: Started as a one night stand 2

After receiving Zhan's reply, Yibo was short of words. As much as he wanted things to move along quickly, he couldn't afford to be seen as a pain. He was the course rep and sooner or later, Xiao Zhan would call for his help. He decided to wait till then.

Yibo's silence was what made Zhan feel more uncomfortable. He had asked this person to stay away but he didn't expect him to be so obedient.

It had been a month since he started work and Zhan didn't need Yibo's help as much as he thought he would so he had no reason to call on him. Also, Yibo now treated him like a stranger. This was what he asked for but now, he didn't like it all that much. He knew if he wanted to get closer to Yibo, he had to meet him halfway. Yibo more or less wanted a relationship with him. As for him, he hadn't figured out what he wanted yet but he didn't want this silence between them.

His eyes had met Yibo's a couple of times around campus. He knew Yibo was watching, he knew Yibo was still interested. As for why he was no longer making moves, Zhan could tell. Also, Yibo came across as...different. He seemed to be much more reserved than the bold young man who approached him weeks ago. He no longer had his blue hair, he had dyed it all black. Pity, Zhan liked the blue hair but he didn't have a say. He had ruined his chance.

Zhan felt he had ruined his chance but what chance was he referring to?

Did he like Yibo? Maybe he did. Did he mean it when he asked Yibo not to contact him except it was absolutely necessary? The answer to this is both yes and no. He didn't want to go beyond his limits as a teacher. Even though there were no rules forbidding such relationships, Zhan knew what was appropriate and what was not. At the same time, a part of wanted to experience those 3 days again and this time, it wanted more than just sex. How was he to balance everything out?

Did Zhan think about his ex? The answer to that was no. Yibo had completely taken over his mind. Even when he felt lonely in bed, he imagined himself wrapped tightly in Yibo's strong arms, not the warmth of a woman. If he was given a chance, would he have sent a different message? The answer to that was a big yes. As a matter of fact, Zhan regretted sending that message almost immediately and wanted to retract it but it Yibo had already seen it.

Yibo on the other hand didn't take Zhan's words to heart. He knew his mission and if Zhan could stay safe, he would be perfectly happy. This Zhan wasn't interested in a relationship with him, he had been open about that from the onset. Yibo was the one who refused to accept it but that outright rejection put him in his place. He had waited for Zhan to call on him all this time but that call never came. He had probably scared the man by being too forward and ended up being shut out. Yes, their fates were tied in this life as well but it was different from his expectations. Yibo wondered how he could help Zhan if he encountered any danger if he didn't even get a chance to be friends with him. The thought of that scared Yibo a little. He didn't mean to stalk but he ended up subconsciously following Zhan around without his knowledge.

......

It was yet another boring weekend and Xiao Zhan was feeling a little lonely. He got in his car and drove out with nowhere in mind. He had been driving for a little more than an hour when he caught sight of a familiar sign; 'emperor's bar'. This was the same place he met Yibo not too long ago. He decided to stop by for a drink, probably meet someone to help take his mind off Yibo. It worked a little too well the first time, he didn't mind giving it another try.

He entered and his sight immediately landed on Yibo. Xiao Zhan recalled this way Yibo's regular place and he had bedded countless men here. When he first found out, he felt nothing but realizing Yibo still came here made his chest hurt a little. Maybe if he wasn't so hard on him, he could have had the right to pull him out of this place and ask him never to return here on his own. He stood on the spot, contemplating whether to walk over to him or sit on a separate table. Seeing his desolate look, Xiao Zhan decided in the end to sit with him.

Yibo just wanted to catch a break and he remembered this was his favourite place to hang out. He rode his bike over and sat on his own, thinking of ways to be around Xiao Zhan without his knowledge.

When Zhan sat across the table from him, he was a little surprised as he never expected to see him here.

"You're 27 this year, right?", was the first thing Yibo said to him.

Being suddenly asked his age, of course Xiao Zhan was taken aback but what he found the most shocking was that he never discussed his age with Yibo. He couldn't figure out Yibo's reason for asking so he nodded in reply, assuming Yibo had a lucky guess.

Both men sat in silence, each having a lot to say to the other but not knowing what to say. After what felt like eternity, both of them spoke at the same time.

"I'm sorry".

"I'm sorry".

Zhan felt if he allowed Yibo speak first, he might end up missing another opportunity. He came here to pick up someone but sitting here with Yibo, he realized he wasn't interested in picking up anyone. He came here because this was the only place he had fond memories of him and Yibo.

"I'm sorry, I was too harsh on you. I promised to give us a chance if we ever met again but I went back on my word. I just felt it wasn't appropriate for a teacher and student to have that sort of relationship. I wasn't expecting to meet you again, not to talk of in that situation. I panicked when you called me BaoBao hence my reaction. I'm sorry".

Yibo wasn't expecting an apology, neither was he expecting an explanation but he happened to get both. He was just about to apologise for coming to hard on Xiao Zhan but it seemed it was all worth it in the end.

"You don't like me calling you Baobao?"

"That's not it. Seriously Yibo, was that all you picked up from what I just said?"

Xiao Zhan could tell Yibo was only teasing from the way he smiled in response. He was glad the ice was finally broken. He was willing to work something out with him as long as they didn't touch his bottom line. He detested having a relationship with his student but he already had some history with Yibo.

"So, I've been thinking", Yibo understood Xiao Zhan's point of view and he wasn't going to directly force him to act otherwise. "I understand you don't want to date a student but as it stands, you're only teaching the first- and third-year students. How about next year? If you're not teaching my class, do you think we can get together?"