Hidden Desires (YiZhan)

chapter 7

Yibo had always prided himself on his ability to maintain control—over his life, his emotions, and the people around him. But as he sat in the dimly lit lounge, Yibo couldn’t shake the unease that had settled in his chest since Zhan’s visit. The cold confidence in Zhan’s eyes, the way he had spoken with such calculated calmness—it all felt like a harbinger of something Yibo couldn’t quite grasp.

It wasn’t fear, Yibo told himself. He had faced adversaries far more threatening than Zhan. But there was something about this situation that gnawed at him. Perhaps it was the realization that Zhan, the person he had viewed as weak and insignificant, was no longer playing by the same rules.

But that wasn’t all. Yibo couldn’t deny the strange, unsettling feelings that surfaced whenever Zhan was near. It was a pull, a magnetism he couldn’t explain. Something about Zhan made him feel… alive in a way nothing else did. Even when he had forced himself on Zhan, a part of him had reveled in the raw connection between them, twisted as it was. And now, seeing Zhan like this, so cold and determined, Yibo couldn’t help but feel a grudging respect, even admiration, creeping into the cracks of his carefully maintained indifference.

It made him furious. Furious that someone like Zhan could stir emotions in him he had never felt before. Yibo had always been the one in control, the one who dictated the terms of every relationship. Yet here he was, thinking about Zhan far more than he wanted to, more than he should.

Yibo downed his drink, hoping the burn of the alcohol would dull the confusion swirling inside him. He had always been the one in control, the one who dictated the terms of every relationship. But Zhan’s parting words echoed in his mind, refusing to let him rest.

“This isn’t over. It’s just the beginning.”

Yibo’s anger flared as he recalled Zhan’s threat, but it was tinged with something else—an unwilling acknowledgment of how Zhan had gotten under his skin. How dare Zhan challenge him like this? How dare he make Yibo feel things he had never allowed himself to feel?

Days passed, and Yibo found himself on edge, always looking over his shoulder, waiting for Zhan to make his next move. It was a new sensation for him, this feeling of being hunted. And he hated it.

Meanwhile, Zhan was meticulously executing his plan, step by step. He knew Yibo’s routine, knew the places he frequented, the people he trusted. Zhan had once been a part of Yibo’s world, and now he would use that knowledge to dismantle it.

He started small, subtle. First, he anonymously leaked sensitive information about one of Yibo’s business deals, causing the other party to pull out at the last minute. Then, he sent an anonymous tip to the press, stirring up rumors about Yibo’s personal life that made him look vulnerable, human—everything Yibo despised being seen as. He even managed to have a key ally of Yibo’s receive a damning piece of fabricated evidence, leading to their trust in Yibo being severely shaken.

Zhan’s actions were like poison, slowly seeping into Yibo’s life, corrupting everything he had worked so hard to build. And the worst part? Yibo couldn’t trace any of it back to Zhan. It was all so… insidious. Like a poison seeping through his veins, paralyzing him bit by bit.

But Yibo wasn’t about to let Zhan win. He wasn’t about to let anyone think he was anything less than untouchable. So, he did what he always did—he pushed back. Hard. He doubled down on his efforts, asserting his dominance in every interaction, every deal, every conversation. He wanted everyone to remember exactly who he was and why they should fear him.

Yet, no matter how much he tried to regain control, Yibo couldn’t shake the feeling that he was losing. He was fighting an enemy he couldn’t see, an enemy who knew him too well. And it terrified him.

But it wasn’t just terror that gnawed at Yibo. It was something more—something he didn’t want to admit, even to himself. There was a strange satisfaction in knowing Zhan was capable of such cunning, such ruthlessness. It made Yibo see him in a new light, one that was both unsettling and oddly compelling.

The final confrontation came sooner than Yibo expected. He had gone to the lounge again, trying to drown his growing paranoia in alcohol and meaningless conversation. But Zhan was there, waiting for him.

Zhan didn’t waste any time with pleasantries. He approached Yibo with the same cold determination that had rattled him days before. But this time, there was no room for games. This time, Zhan was ready to deliver the final blow.

“Yibo,” Zhan said, his voice cutting through the haze of alcohol in Yibo’s mind. “You look tired.”

Yibo glared at him, but there was no mistaking the exhaustion in his eyes. “What do you want, Zhan? Haven’t you had enough fun?”

Zhan’s smile was cold, devoid of any warmth. “This isn’t about fun, Yibo. This is about payback.”

Yibo’s hands clenched into fists, but he forced himself to stay calm. “You think you can break me? You’re delusional.”

“Am I?” Zhan leaned in closer, his voice lowering to a whisper. “Look around you, Yibo. Your world is already crumbling, and you don’t even realize it.”

Yibo opened his mouth to retort, but the words caught in his throat. He had always prided himself on being unshakable, but now, faced with Zhan’s unrelenting gaze, he felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time—fear.

Zhan could see it, too. He could see the cracks in Yibo’s facade, and it fueled his resolve. “You’re not as invincible as you think,” Zhan continued. “And by the time I’m done with you, you’ll have nothing left.”

Yibo’s anger flared, but it was tinged with desperation. “You don’t know what you’re messing with, Zhan. I’ll destroy you.”

Zhan chuckled, the sound devoid of any real amusement. “You already tried that, remember? But now…it’s my turn.”

The two men stared at each other, the tension between them thick and suffocating. Yibo could feel his control slipping, could feel the walls closing in around him. And for the first time, he didn’t know how to fight back.

But underneath the fear, Yibo felt something else—a twisted sense of excitement. It was wrong, he knew, to feel this way about the person who was systematically destroying his life. But the intensity of their connection, the raw, unfiltered emotions between them—it was addictive.

Zhan saw the uncertainty in Yibo’s eyes and knew he had won this round. He didn’t need to say anything else. The damage was already done.

As Zhan turned to leave, he paused, glancing back at Yibo one last time. “This isn’t over,” he said, echoing his earlier words. “Not by a long shot.”

Yibo watched him go, his mind reeling. The world he had so carefully built was unraveling before his eyes, and he had no idea how to stop it.

But one thing was certain—this war between them had only just begun.
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Sorry I wasn't able to upload yesterday. I was a bit busy. But here's the chapter. And yibo does feel something for zhan
-yizhan_BJYX