Fated Bonds

Chapter 1: "A Love That Hurts"

Xiao Zhan loved him.

It was that simple, really. He was a college student, and like any other boy his age, he dreamed of love, warmth, and a future filled with happiness. And in his mind, all of this was tied to Chen, his boyfriend. Chen was older, more experienced, and had a mysterious charm that Zhan had fallen for almost three years ago.

As the warm rays of sunlight spilled through the windows of their shared dorm room, Zhan was busy setting up something special for the evening. The small space was transformed into a cozy, romantic setting. A dozen candles were arranged carefully on the side table, casting soft flickering shadows on the walls, and a bottle of Chen’s favorite wine sat chilling in the mini-fridge. Zhan smiled to himself, excited about the surprise he had planned.

Tonight would be perfect.

Zhan had meticulously planned everything—a special home-cooked meal, handpicked gifts, and a love letter that he had written the night before, detailing how much he cared for Chen. This was Zhan’s routine—lavishing his love and affection on his boyfriend, wanting to make every day with him special.

Yet, somewhere deep inside, a quiet voice in his heart whispered doubts. Does Chen feel the same?

Over the years, Zhan had noticed the subtle changes. Chen’s touch wasn’t as tender anymore, his words weren’t filled with the affection they once held. Still, Zhan dismissed it, telling himself that relationships go through phases, and maybe Chen was just going through something difficult.

When Zhan loved, he loved deeply. He poured himself into the relationship, no matter the cost

Chen arrived late, as usual. The door creaked open, and Zhan’s heart leaped with excitement, but his smile faltered when he saw the indifference in Chen’s eyes. He hadn’t even noticed the effort Zhan had put into the evening. His gaze was cold, scanning the room briefly before he walked over to the table and poured himself a glass of wine.

Zhan cleared his throat, hoping to bring some warmth back into the atmosphere. “I planned something special for us tonight. I thought we could celebrate… you know, three years together.”

Chen looked up, his expression unreadable. “Three years, huh? Yeah, I guess so.” He took a sip of wine, barely acknowledging the milestone.

Zhan’s chest tightened. He approached Chen slowly, wrapping his arms around him from behind, hoping that his touch might break through the wall that seemed to have grown between them.

“I love you,” Zhan whispered, his voice soft and vulnerable. He waited for Chen to respond, to say something, anything.

Chen exhaled and gently pushed Zhan’s arms away. “Yeah, I know you do,” he muttered, walking over to the couch and pulling out his phone.

Zhan’s heart sank.

He tried to smile through the disappointment, his mind racing for an explanation. Maybe Chen was tired from school or work, or maybe he was stressed about something else. Zhan always made excuses for him, never wanting to confront the painful truth that had begun to gnaw at him.

But the truth was, Chen didn’t love him. Not the way Zhan loved him.

As the night dragged on, Zhan continued to serve Chen—bringing him food, refilling his drink, even giving him a small gift. Chen accepted everything with casual indifference, his eyes barely leaving his phone. Zhan sat beside him, watching the man he thought he knew so well, feeling the distance between them grow wider with each passing second.

Chen was with him for one reason, and Zhan refused to acknowledge it. Money.

Zhan’s parents were wealthy, and over time, Chen had become more interested in the material aspects of their relationship. Zhan didn’t mind spending money on him—he loved buying him gifts, paying for their trips, even supporting Chen financially when he needed help. But over time, it became clear that Chen’s affection was tied to the money Zhan provided.

The breaking point had come months ago, though Zhan hadn’t been aware of it. Chen had gone to Zhan’s parents and threatened them. He had threatened to hurt Zhan if they didn’t pay him off. For a year, Zhan’s parents quietly transferred money to Chen’s account, terrified of what he might do to their son if they refused.

But now, they were done. Zhan’s father, Xiao Huang, had a plan. He wasn’t going to let this go on any longer.

The next morning, Zhan sat at the breakfast table with his parents, unaware of the conversation that had taken place the previous night between his father and Lan Qiren. He smiled as he ate, still hopeful that Chen’s mood from the night before had just been a fluke.

His father, however, wasn’t smiling.

“Zhan, we need to talk,” his father said, his voice steady but firm. His mother, Xiao Lee, sat beside him, looking pained but supportive.

Zhan’s fork paused midway to his mouth. “What is it, Dad?”

“We’ve… come to a decision. You’re not going to like it, but it’s for your own good.”

Zhan’s brow furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

His father sighed deeply, his hands gripping the table as if to steady himself. “We’ve arranged a marriage for you.”

The world seemed to tilt under Zhan’s feet.

A marriage?

Zhan’s heart raced, his mind scrambling to process the words. He looked to his mother, but she avoided his gaze, her lips pressed tightly together.

“To who?” Zhan whispered, the question barely audible.

His father didn’t hesitate. “To Wang Yibo. You’ll be marrying him in three months.”