Zhan looked away, he was shocked that he admit to Yibo that his body was hurting. He couldn't stop himself because he could barely move his arms. And of all the yachts he could swim into, why in this man's yacht? It isn't like you have an impeachable virtue...
He remembers Yibo's words, and he should not feel hurt. Somehow, he knew that Yibo hated him. Their encounter on the night of the party proved that the way he spoke with him. But what Yibo said cut him- cut hard and deep.
After two years, the disgust in Yibo's eyes when he stared at him on the stairs of Jeffrey Moore's mansion still imprints in his mind. He was already downstairs when he looked up to see Yibo hugging and comforting Meng Ziyi.
And like everyone else, he was already judged by Yibo and he couldn't blame him though. Meng Ziyi was family.
"I-I didn't know that was your yacht, it's the closest I've seen..." Zhan turned to the side table. Along with the coffee, there are eggs, toast, jam, and papaya on the tray. He took the steaming coffee mug from the tray with a casualness he was far from feeling. His hands trembled a little as it closed around the mug and sipped slowly. He could feel the hot and delicious coffee running down his throat. It made him feel better.
"I'm Yibo-"
"I know who you are, Mr. Wang," Zhan interrupted his introduction and raised his eyes slightly to look at Yibo and then returned his attention to his coffee.
Yibo's eyebrows rose. "Then can you start explaining to me what you were doing and thought of swimming in the middle of The Port of Tianjin with nothing on?"
Yibo's voice was velvet, not gravelly like he first thought when they were in the garden. Its quality was unforgettable. It made his nerve endings flare for one sharp moment and his breath caught in his throat.
Zhan took time sipping his coffee, as if he were inside a five-star hotel and having his breakfast in bed. Denying the turmoil, he felt inside.
"The coffee is good, thank you," he remarked after a while.
"You're not answering my question." Zhan raised her eyes. He met Yibo's eyes warily. Blue. Glacier blue. Strange Color, for a Chinese. But he also read in articles that his mother is half-American. Yibo must have inherited his mother's eyes.
And as he stared at Yibo he felt danger. Both literally and figuratively. In his association with men, especially after what happened to him last night, they were all predators.
The smile that came out of his lips was almost a sneer. "Well, to justify your curiosity, Mr. Wang, I attended an orgy party in one of the yachts. In a frenzy of passion, I got thrown overboard. When I reappeared in the water, the yacht was far away. So, I had to swim to the nearest yacht, which was yours."
Yibo couldn't stop the look of surprise on his face. For a moment there, he almost believed Zhan's story had it not been for the sarcasm in his voice.
Seeing the reaction on his face, Zhan fought the urge to laugh. And then he was bitter at the same time. This man looked down on him enough to believe what he was saying was true.
Uh, what? Isn't that what most of them think of you? It didn't matter before. Why should it now?
"I can see you're shocked," Zhan said, a corner of his lips twitching in a faint smile. "And I wonder why. You keep saying your low opinion of me."
"You're right. And you know why," Yibo replied. "And you're expanding my bad opinion of you."
Zhan shrugged. "I don't really care what you think of me, Mr. Wang. But I'm grateful for your help last night," he said while looking around the room.
Where are they? The room didn't look as if it were one of the hotel rooms. Because the huge room was octagonal. Zhan silently shook his head. Half of the room is isolated maybe from the whole house to design that kind of room.
And the wall is stone... in rough finished and unpainted. Probably not painted on purpose. The ceiling was also in rough finish. And in a corner of the room, he saw a winding staircase made of steel.
And what's up there? Another room or warehouse? The octagonal room had a masculine air in it. Even the furniture-which were not just expensive but was selected with good taste.
The room is complete with all the modern furniture down to the laptop computer which is on a computer table positioned in one part of the octagon.
The rugs on the floor are beautiful and look expensive, in masculine colors, beige, brown, and black blended into one.
The huge windows were bare. The wind was strong and cold, and the cold was gnawing at his muscles. No wonder, there is no air conditioner in the room. Zhan couldn't see any trees outside the window, but he could hear birds chirping.
The wind brings the gentle lapping of the waves on the shore to his ears. Are they at the beach?
Zhan sighed warily. Waking up in an unfamiliar environment seems to be becoming a part of his life.
He put the coffee mug back on the tray and stood up. Trying to ignore the pain in his body. He had slept for hours and somehow, he felt refreshed, but now he accepts the punishment of his muscles because of the swimming he did last night.
At the same time, he was trying to calm himself in front of Yibo. He was just like others. Just like every other he had met in his entire life. After the scandal that happened in his life, he had learned his lesson well. Or he thought he had.
After what happened last night, he doubts himself if he can still treat and trust a man. Zanjin for example. He trusted him. Zhan face turned sharp when he remembered his manager. He would take care of him later.
And Wang Yibo. He especially shouldn't trust him because he doesn't deny his disgust for him. In the corner of his eyes, he knew that Yibo was following his every move.
"I presume this is your shirt," he said without looking at Yibo. He bent down, hoping his face didn't betray the shame he felt. "Thank you." He tried to look at Yibo straight. "Can I borrow..." He swallowed, "a bottom? A pair of jeans, maybe, or a pair of shorts. And... and can I get a ride to... anywhere I can get a taxi?"
Yibo gave him a long look before answering. "Well, I'm sorry, Xiao Zhan, but you happened to be marooned here..." Yibo said in an irritating casualness.
"M-marooned?" Zhan repeated. "What do you mean? Where are we, anyway?"
"Gusu Island."
Gusu Island. It sounded familiar. Of course. It's the name of the island owned by the Wangs.
And he was on Yibo family's island! He has no idea what part of China he is!
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