Married Strangers (complete)

7. 4 years later

Yibo woke up with a certain familiar feeling in his heart. He dreamt of him again. He had dreamt of Zhan often and he always woke up in tears. The dreams weren't sad, they were happy dreams. As for why he kept crying, he couldn't tell. He brought out a piece of paper, it was the same marriage annulment form. Xiao Zhan had signed his part, he looked at the date on it, it was exactly 4 years ago. Xiao Zhan should be 33 years old now, I wonder how he looks. Yibo thought to himself. He was unable to sign the papers back then, he couldn't bring himself to.

That same evening, in another part of the country, Xiao Zhan walked into a gathering dressed in a formal business attire. He pushed in a wheel chair carrying a man in his early sixties. This man was none other than his father. 4 years ago, Xiao Zhan's trip was cut short when he received news of his father's illness. His father suddenly came down with a stroke and he had to come back home to take control of the company. When he returned, he had little time to think of Yibo as he buried himself in work, along with Darren. First, he had to stabilize the company shares when fake rumors of the chairman's death broke out. He also had to fight off other shareholders who saw him as unfit simply because he was unmarried.

It was a long battle and by the time things started to normalize, one who year had passed. Just when things began to look better, an illegitimate son appeared out of nowhere. He was more than 9 years older than Xiao Zhan. Turns out his father had an affair with a woman years before he met and married his mother. The age of the man matched the time of the affair. A lot of shareholders suddenly started to give their support to this new person. Zhan's mother urged him to quickly marry the girl his father chose for him. That would help stabilize his position as both companies would merge. Xiao Zhan had firmly refused.

Darren was not his PA for nothing. In a few weeks, it was determined via a DNA test that the said person had no blood relation with Xiao Zhan's father. His mother sincerely believed the chairman was the father of her son and felt ashamed when it was proven otherwise. They left in shame but by then Zhan already knew who his foe were.

His father's recovery was a long one, this was the first time he was appearing in public in years. Many people really thought he died. He was in a coma for more than a year. This gathering was a sort of 'purge'. As his father addressed the people gathered, Zhan sat next to him, spacing out most of the time.

The gathering lasted a few hours and in the end, some left with their faces all gloomy. Zhan's father brought up the issue of marriage again when there were only a few people left.

"Pa, I have to be honest with you. I am incapable of being with a woman. I'm gay. You can have grandchildren from shijie (his elder sister). As for me, I don't think I can....I'm sorry pa". this was the first time Xiao Zhan openly told his father about his sexuality. He was waiting for his father to bring down the roof but the response he got next was shocking.

His father looked at him, shook his head and spoke. "Gay people can have babies. Haven't you heard of artificial insemination?".

"..."

"Why do you look like you've seen a ghost? You're surprised that I didn't object? Can't you see? I already have one foot in the grave. Besides, I have long known about your orientation why do you think I have been urging you to get married? I wanted to see if there was any way I could change your....your...you know what I mean".

Xiao Zhan didn't expect this discussion to go so smoothly. Of course, he loved to have kids of his own, he just didn't think his father would be so supportive. He was prepared for a fight and things turning out this way, playing out so peacefully made him a little...uncomfortable.

"So...", his father continued to speak. "...is there someone you're dating?"

Again, Xiao Zhan didn't expect this sort of question. His face displayed all sorts of emotions. For the past 4 years, he had not had any time to think of a relationship. As for the marriage annulment, he left everything in Darren's hand. He was informed that there were some challenges but Darren promised to fix them. This can be considered the first time Darren had been unable to deliver on a promise.

When his father asked, Xiao Zhan suddenly thought about Yibo. As for why, he still could not tell. Both men had not been in contact since they parted ways. They never exchanged contact information. Zhan believed Darren knew how to contact Yibo but he never asked. Not that he never wanted to he felt it was pointless. What was the essence of stringing a straight man along, one he had feelings for. It was best not to start anything that may turn out badly. He answered his father truthfully, "No, I'm not dating anyone".

His father was able to see through his emotions and patted Xiao Zhan's shoulder. "What does he think of kids? Do you guys plan to settle down together? You should bring him to meet us sometime."

"Pa, I'm not dating...", the look on his father's face showed he wasn't buying a word of what Xiao Zhan was telling. He decided it was best not to keep on arguing.

......

After the chairman left the gathering, Darren finally walked up to Xiao Zhan. "A-Zhan, if looks could kill, you'd long be dead. These men have been shooting daggers at you all night with their eyes".

"Of course, they hate me. Most of them are in trouble and would soon be ousted from their positions. It's not my fault though. They were trusted by the chairman but betrayed him just as he feel sick. They should have thought about this outcome".

"A-Zhan...I'm not referring to that. Didn't you see the way their wives and mistresses were ogling at you? Those men were jealous to death. You're a woman magnet! Why not pick a girl you trust, discuss your sexuality and you can both get married to keep up appearances. Of course, this marriage will be on paper only".

Zhan pretended to think for a moment then said, "Darren, I have no words for you. I really do not have the strength for all of that. Why don't you meet me halfway, marry me instead to 'keep up appearances".

"Haha, Zhan, have you forgotten? You're still a married man! I don't do married men, sorry".

Darren's response seemed to touch Zhan in a certain part that he had tried to suppress all this time.

"Darren, you mean the annulment has not been concluded till date?"

"It hasn't. There were some missing signatures and your...Yibo has been proving a little difficult. He wants to meet you, he wants you to sign it in his presence. I believe he has another motive, I do not trust him".

Why did Yibo want to meet up with him? Zhan could not phantom why even after racking his brain for a very long time. He had to sort out that issue soon lest it becomes a problem in the future.

"It has been 4 whole years. That marriage can no longer be annulled, you can only file for a divorce. I started the process but the divorce has to take place in the country you got married, there are no laws here that cover for gay marriages. Yibo could have sent a representative but I tell you, that kid is so stubborn..."

Kid? Could a 26 year old be considered a kid? As for why he was being stubborn, Xiao Zhan had no idea. He owed Yibo nothing as far as he could remember, why was he holding on to this marriage? He trusted Darren's judgement, if Darren didn't inform him till now, it meant it wasn't important but this was something that had to be fixed as soon as possible.

"A-Zhan, on your way back home, could you stop by the mini mart and pick up the items on this list?", Darren handed a list to Xiao Zhan. "I'm really too tired to do anything else tonight, I just want to go to bed".

Xiao Zhan took the list and looked at it. It mostly contained groceries. He nodded his head and put it in his pocket. Then he seemed to realize something.

"Darren! Just who is the PA among the both of us?"

"A-Zhan, working hours are over. You're just my friend at the moment. Be a good boy and pick those items up will you? I'd get them from you tomorrow in the office".

Xiao Zhan had no idea why he didn't turn Darren down but his going to the mini mart turned out to be a good decision.

Hi All
1 more chapter to go 😔 (including 3 extra chapters, making a total of 4)
Should I post them all tomorrow or spread them across 2days? They're fully typed and edited. Let me know your preference.
Thanks so much