The Price Of Ambition (Yizhan)

Chapter 15

The sight that greeted him was like a dagger to his heart. Liang was all over Xian Zhan, her body pressed against his, attempting to kiss him. In that split second, Yibo’s worst fears seemed confirmed.

“Zhan!” he shouted, his voice a mix of anger and pain.

Zhan pushed Liang away, his eyes wide with shock. “Yibo Ge, it’s not what it looks like!”

But Yibo’s jealousy and insecurities flared uncontrollably. “I knew it,” he spat, his voice trembling. “I knew I couldn’t trust you!”

Unable to bear the sight any longer, Yibo turned and stormed out of the studio. Zhan chased after him, desperate to explain. “Yibo Ge, please listen to me! She was just—”

Yibo whirled around, his eyes blazing with hurt and betrayal. “I saw enough, Zhan. You don’t need to say anything.”

Zhan’s heart broke as he watched Yibo walk away, his mind reeling from the misunderstanding. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to fix things that night, he returned to the studio, his heart heavy with despair.

The next morning, after a sleepless night, Zhan made a difficult decision. He couldn’t stay in the Wang Mansion knowing Yibo didn’t trust him. Packing a few belongings, he left a note for Yibo, explaining that he needed some space and would be staying with his mother for a while.

He kissed their son Shean goodbye, promising to see him soon. “Be good for your father, Shean,” he whispered, tears streaming down his face.

The day's turned into week's, and the distance between Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo only grew. Both of them were too stubborn and hurt to reach out, each convinced that the other didn’t want to reconcile. Yibo threw himself into his work, trying to forget the pain, while Zhan focused on his art and their son, Shean, who missed his father terribly.

Well the child came to his Papa after 2 days, Mr. Wang dropped him to Zhan's mother's house after he protest to be with his Papa, as Yibo comes home late.

At his mother’s house, Zhan tried to create a sense of normalcy for Shean. They established new routines, and Zhan’s mother did her best to support them both. However, the absence of Yibo was a constant shadow over their lives.

“Papa,” Shean asked one evening, “when will Daddy come to see us?”

Zhan’s heart ached at the question. “Soon, Shean. Daddy is just very busy right now.”

Meanwhile, Yibo was struggling to maintain his composure. The pain of the separation was eating away at him, but his pride kept him from reaching out. He often found himself staring at his phone, tempted to call Zhan but always putting it down.

His work didn’t bring him the same satisfaction, and his colleagues noticed his increasing irritability. Even his secretary and PA could see the change in him. Yibo missed his family more than he cared to admit.

One day, while taking Shean to a nearby park, Zhan unexpectedly ran into Yue, a woman he had met a few years back. Yue had always admired Zhan’s work and was delighted to see him again.

“Zhan! It’s been long. How are you?” Yue greeted him warmly.

Zhan smiled, happy to see a friendly face. “Yue, it’s good to see you too. I’ve been... managing.”

They sat on a bench, catching up on old times while Shean played nearby. Yue noticed the sadness in Zhan’s eyes and gently probed, “Is everything alright, Zhan?”

Zhan sighed, deciding to confide in her. “It’s complicated, Yue. Yibo and I... we’re going through a rough patch.”

Unbeknownst to Zhan, someone from the Wang Corporation saw them together and assumed the worst. By the next day, rumors were swirling about Zhan and Yue. When the gossip reached Yibo, it only fueled his insecurities.