Behind The Red Curtain | YiZhan ✓

52-Cupid's Broken Arrow

The discreet sound the dice made when thrown echoed in the big office room, while the circular stones that tapped on the wooden box followed after, sounding as if it came from a mid-day cafe. Yet it was nighttime and Yibo was at the company building, playing the backgammon he had bought Duyi as a gift to start their conversation. Yet he managed to loose every single round, becoming more fickle, soon letting his sadness and confusion be corrupted by ambition. 

But despite the front he placed as a mask, Duyi was still the intelligent man he had always been, soon figuring out the reason behind Yibo's discreet stress. "He turned the gift back." 

Yibo glanced up at his face before throwing the dice once more, letting it go off-board and fall on the ground. "You didn't even ask. So sure of yourself as always..." Duyi picked the dice up and placed it on the table, not wanting to play anymore but get straight to the point. "Which is why you came to me instead of going to Zixin." Yibo rolled his eyes and paused when he saw the clock. It read 2am. 

"That was partially the reason... haven't heard from him since the police station. Isn't picking up my calls." Duyi didn't care any more to talk of him and changed the subject. "So why did he turn you down? It was a flattering gift." 

Yibo scratched the back of his head, seeming as baffled as one would be. Yet he also knew of his own intentions, making it clear in his mind to come closer to understanding Zhan. "You know it wasn't the gift. And i didn't ask him out anyways... just wanted him to see the gift as me wanting to be closer to him." 

Duyi hummed. "Yet?" Yibo continued. "Yet he seemed scared. Like literally scared, as if i were about to eat him or something. Hell- i don't even know what happened. He said he couldn't breathe and ran off." 

Duyi chuckled at him and shook his head. "What- does this seem funny to you? Need i remind you that your confession to me was worse?" Duyi shook his head. "Mine wasn't a confession. Yours was just an assumption." 

Yibo shrugged, feeling lost. "I mean i didn't think that he wouldn't be able to handle it. He said he needed me with such certainty and fear in his eyes... you just had to see it." Duyi looked down, seeming a bit sentimental as he spoke of Zhan with such tender words. "Him saying he needed you maybe wasn't referring to him liking you the way you like him." 

Yibo leaned forward, his hands clasped together. "You wouldn't look at a person you like with teary eyes, telling them that you can't live without them." 

Duyi thought for a bit, wondering how it would unravel if Yibo were to take certain acts. Yet when he couldn't come to a conclusion, he shook his head and leaned back. "What- your genius mind can't help me either?" 

"No... well, whatever Zhan is going through, it's peculiar. He wouldn't act so without a reason, but even i am finding it hard to find an explanation to." Yibo scoffed, feeling ridiculous. "Great... i'm stuck. Like i always am. With him, it's like a ticking time bomb. I never know how he will react, or what he will say or how he will feel. It's always a guessing game as if i'm gambling or something." 

Duyi smiled. "I like your determination though. It's something to be proud of. Don't feel belittled." Yibo shook his head while the older continued. "I think the case with Zhan is that he... doesn't know how to lean on people." 

Yet Yibo looked back up, confused. "What do you mean? He has been leaning on me ever since i met him. He trusts me-" 

"That's not what i mean. People can lean on people sometimes only on the surface. So when they feel trapped or lost, they can easily use those before them to handle their emotions and forget about it." Yibo frowned. "You just called me a guinea pig. What am i- an emotional support tower?" Duyi squinted his eyes slightly. "Don't be that unnerved. What i mean is, he finds it hard to let someone hold his weight."