The Love That Moves The Sun and The Other Stars

* The author in no way wanted to offend the feelings of the religious, the whole story is just fanfiction and doesn't have any intentions to discredit religion / clergy. It's a full AU (considering that Catholicism in China is a complicated matter x) and some of "Thorn Birds" vibe :D

The first time Xiao Zhan met little Wang Yibo was when the boy was five and the man was twenty-five.

Yibo's parents died in a car accident. Fortunately, the boy wasn't with them in the car, but due to the tragedy, he was locked in the house. When the parents didn't return, Yibo broke the window on the first floor and climbed out into the street in order to search for them, badly injured. The boy wandered around and practically didn't eat or drink anything for several days, settling for scraps until he was rescued. Yibo was found in a terrible health condition: his hands and feet were cuts and pus, his knees and elbows were bruised, and there were scratches and dirt all over his body. He breathed very weakly.

The Wang family no longer had any relatives – Yibo's parents were raised in a Catholic orphanage and after they grew up, they got married. The guardianship authorities decided to send the orphaned Wang Yibo there, too.

When Xiao Zhan first saw him – such a tiny tot, in whom life still glimmered, the man took him in his arms and hugged him, feeling the beating of a small heart. The child resembled a kitten in Xiao Zhan's wide embrace, and the young priest's heart shivered as the boy squeezed his cassock with his tiny fists on the man's chest. Xiao Zhan personally nursed Wang Yibo, didn't leave the bed when the boy was seized by a severe fever and tried in every possible way to alleviate the course of the disease. The doctors had saying that the child was found late, and he had little chance, but Xiao Zhan didn't give up and prayed for Yibo's salvation every day. Perhaps this was God's will, but the priest put in no less effort and did everything possible to bring the long-awaited recovery.

The boy was finally started to recover, and Xiao Zhan felt a feeling of relief in his heart.

When Wang Yibo opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a priest in a white sleeping robe. It was night outside.

- Uncle... – said the boy in a weak voice. – You are an angel? Did I'm in Heaven?

- No, – Xiao Zhan shook his head. – You're still alive thanks to God's providence. You should thank the Lord for your salvation. Now you will live in his sanctuary– an orphanage at the Catholic Church.

- I don't remember anything. What is my name?

- Your name is Yibo. Wang Yibo.

- What is your name?

- You can call me Father Xiao.

The boy has smiled – a weak but sincere smile, and it seemed to Xiao Zhan as bright as a guiding star in the sky. And for Yibo, Xiao Zhan himself became such a star – his guardian angel who saved his life. He felt deeply indebted to him and very quickly became attached to the priest. The orphanage and the church were on the same territory, so Xiao Zhan was always there, and Yibo could come to him at any time.

Year after year had passing. At first, Wang Yibo grew up as an obedient and humble child, but with age, a perky tomboy has woken up in him, and he often has started to piss off the nuns. However, despite this, Yibo was kind and didn't harm anyone. Xiao Zhan laid many positive qualities in Yibo, so the priest forgave him for his sometimes unbearable behavior and encouraged him, even when the nuns complained that the boy didn't always follow the established orders and rules.

When Wang Yibo was twelve years old, he returned from school with a black eye and abrasions all over his body. When questioning the nuns, he was silent as a partisan, and they had no choice but to ask for help from Xiao Zhan – the only person whom Yibo listened to, asked for advice, and could open his own soul.